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Comedian Tim Key is set for more surprises on his return to Shepherds Bush.

He’s on his way back to W12 ahead of this year’s Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival, running from Tuesday 18 to Sunday 23 June, which boasts fellow comics Nina Conti and Shenoah Allen as the comedy duo ‘Monkey and Roy’.

We sat down with the comic ahead of his festival performance and he revealed an extraordinary discovery that he made after his last show in Shepherds Bush. “I found a wooden hippopotamus’ by the roundabout,” said Tim.

“I heaved it into a friend’s car. I painted it and now it hangs, in pristine white, in my hallway. I do wonder if someone had simply popped it down for a second while they went back inside the mall for something. Either way, I assume it was a classic case of the discarded head.”

This year’s festival appearance will see Tim Key headline a show at the Bush Hall in Uxbridge Road on Friday 21 June, which also includes Simon Munnery.

Tim Key and superstitions

The 42-year-old comic, who is best known for his work in Alan Partridge’s ‘Mid-Morning Matters’ and ‘This Time’ shows, admitted to having a rather regimented routine ahead of his gigs.

“If it’s just a normal gig it’s a case of one pint of beer and write some stuff on my hands. If it’s my actual show, there are problems. I walk the same route to the venue, buy the same produce from the same shop, enter venue at same time, etc. If the first night goes well I repeat everything to the letter every night. One Edinburgh Festival I watched 26 episodes of ‘Come Dine With Me’ and had 52 cans of Red Stripe,” added Tim.

The 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Festival award winner is not the only big name performing at this year’s Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival.

The star-studded line-up also includes Jayde Adams and Angela Barnes at the Bush Theatre on Sunday 23 June, Fin Taylor and Prince Abdi.

View the full schedule for the Shepherds Bush Comedy Festival.

“The comedy festival is part of our efforts to transform H&F into one of the leading arts destinations in the country,” said Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Arts.

Shows will be held at: 

• Bush Hall
• Bush Theatre
• The Grove
• The Princess Victoria
• White City Place.

Charity fundraiser

There will be a night of comedy, beatbox and hilarious impressions all in aid of the charity Key4Life on Saturday 22 June at White City Place.

Prince Abdi, Archie Maddocks, Steff Todd, Grant Buse and Iszi Lawrence (MC) will be taking to the stage to help raise money for the charity.

All ticket sales are to be donated to the charity.

Arts strategy

The comedy festival forms part of the council's arts strategy (pdf 627KB) to make H&F an international beacon of the arts.

The council is working towards making the borough’s vibrant arts scene an integral part of a dynamic local economy which fosters local jobs, businesses and economic growth.

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