micky flanagan warm up tour southend

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Going out-out again: Micky Flanagan’s irresistibly unreconstructed comedy comeback

After several years away, the cheeky cockney comic is doubling down on his good-old-days brand – but despite his geezerish nostalgia he’s no anti-woke crusader

M icky Flanagan was worried, he says, that audiences might have moved on. Fair enough: it has been half a decade since he last graced the nation’s stages, when the man who defined the difference between going “out” and “ out out ” was arguably the UK’s most popular comedian . But time waits for no standup, least of all when the intervening period has seen him hit 60, and seen the context change in which old-school, cheeky chappy comedy might be delivered.

And yet, his worries are without substance, if the opening night of his Hammersmith run was any gauge. These were the last warm-up gigs before Flanagan’s tour proper starts next week, and they found the east Londoner in evergreen form, and rapturously received by a crowd that still adores him. Watching it, one could believe the market may even be growing for Flanagan’s brand of comedy, which looks at poncy modernity with the sceptical eye of one who grew up poor and without sentimentality in the middle of the previous century. These are confusing times, and there’s something reassuring about the solid certainties from a simpler age that Flanagan brings – or at least there is when delivered with Flanagan’s fundamental unseriousness and sense of fun.

The new show, If Ever We Needed It, seems even older-school than I’d expect from the comic, whose best material is smarter and more slippery than the geezer stylings suggest. But this is back-to-basics Mick, with lots of material on ’er indoors, the sitcom On the Buses , no less, and the idiocy of much modern living. The “smart meter” is contrasted with Flanagan’s dad’s no-nonsense method of dodging energy payments in the 1960s. Rimming is expertly mined for every shovelful of its obvious comic value, much as pegging was when last Flanagan took to the stage. Part of the fun of this routine is the contrast our host draws with the days of his youth, when a blowjob seemed like the most exotic of innovations.

If this all sounds blokey, well, that’s part of Flanagan’s appeal. Not for him any modern sheepishness about masculinity: that’s not what they taught you, I imagine, at Billingsgate fish market, where young Micky plied his trade. Flanagan doesn’t pretend to be anything he’s not, whether that’s an enfeebled husband mouthing swearwords behind his wife’s back, or a domestic busybody laminating the bin rota and hunting down the right items to fit the right tins. That authenticity is his ally as a comic – but equally, the refusal to rein himself in can lead to missteps. A routine tonight envying “the Arabian man”, not least for the supposed docility of his womanfolk, is a bit too 1960s for comfort.

Does this – and Flanagan’s other material on the so-called culture wars – mean we should bracket comeback-era Micky alongside Gervais and co, as another middle-aged megastar flaunting his anti-woke credentials ? Not really. Flanagan lacks the ego to set himself up as a crusader for free speech, or anything else. Nor is he in the business of upsetting anyone: his detour into trans competitors in women’s swimming (“I was straight on the Ladbrokes app”) gracefully swerves wider debates about gender. And while some might take umbrage at routines waxing nostalgic about heavy breathers (so much more innocent, argues our host, than the sexual behaviours of our own era), Flanagan’s treatment is irresistibly comical and cynicism-free.

He’s breaking no new ground then, with this return after half a decade away. But Flanagan occupies his existing terrain with great authority, lightly worn. Performed this well, there’ll always be an audience for the unreconstructed comedy of marital grouches and hair-raising sex, “remember the good old days” and dismay at modernity. Far from moving on, audiences will likely flock back to Flanagan by the thousand.

Micky Flanagan is on tour until 2 June.

• Micky Flanagan
• Comedy (Stage)
• Comedy (Culture)

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Most viewed.

Micky Flanagan returns with a brand new live show

Micky’s been double busy writing the new show and it’s already proved a hit with fans, he’s even been doing matinees. 

“#mickyflanagan absolutely brilliant in Southend this afternoon on his warm up show – you’re in for a treat!” “The boy’s as funny as hell and it’s only the warm-up shows #iknowitsanemptystage”  “Just got back from seeing Micky Flanagan pre tour show in Blackpool. Ridiculously funny! If that’s a warm-up, the tour will be hysterical!”

The current run of shows starts in Bournemouth on 15th March and includes Dublin, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and finishes in London on 13th May.   The show covers Micky turning 60 – who’d have thought it? – as well as having sex with your glasses on, his school alumni and his ballbag. It’s fair to say it’s for over-16s.

The full list of tour dates is not yet available. For updates and access to presale tickets from Wednesday 22nd February, join the mailing list on Micky’s official website . Tickets go on general sale from 10am Saturday 25th February.

He’s the man who gave Britain the “Out Out” phrase, which was used by Piccadilly Circus tube to put a smile on commuters’ faces as we came out of Lockdown and went on to be used by TFL to encourage people back into theatres, restaurants and clubs.  Micky cut his comedy teeth at these clubs and it clearly paid off.

His routines online, including the Perks of Peeping, The Shits Abroad, The Crafty Cockney, The Demise of Fingering, Tomato Sauce and Chicken Children, have been viewed in the hundred millions, and are a huge hit on TikTok. He keeps us laughing through the tough times – and if ever we needed it, it’s now! 

• ‘ Shakes the rafters with laughter’ Evening Standard
• ‘ The country’s most popular comic’ The Guardian
•  ‘ On the form of his life’ The Times

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Micky warms up at the Cliffs

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Stand up comic Micky Flanagan is coming to the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, for a limited run of three warm up shows from January 23-25.

Tickets, available online only from Friday January 13 at https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/tickets-micky-flanagan-southend-2023 are for fans only (aged 16+) and special conditions are in place to ensure that they are purchased for personal use and not for resale.

To prevent ticket touting, the ticket purchaser must attend the event and bring a valid photo ID matching the customer name on the ticket(s) to gain entry to the venue. If matching ID cannot be presented, entry may be refused. Guests will not be allowed entry without the ticket purchaser being present.

A strict limit of four tickets per household per event applies.

For disabled access call 0343 310 0030.

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Editor Email: [email protected]

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If We Ever Needed It

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Micky Flanagan

About this show.

A professional stand-up since 1997, Micky Flanagan draws on his East End background as he ruthlessly deconstructs the Cockney myth with razor-sharp observational wit. He tells a comic tale of a working class upbringing, where alphabetti spaghetti is a luxury and a bottle of black tower the height of sophistication. Micky’s unique brand of intelligent humour appeals to men and women equally, as he bemoans the lot of modern man in pursuit of the perfect idle day, and celebrates being turned away from a night club because his feet are killing him.

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Micky Flanagan

If ever we needed it.

• Date 11 May - 2 June 2023
• Venue The O2 arena
• Availability On sale now

Event Details

This event is a phone free experience. Upon entry your mobile tickets will be scanned and your seat details will be printed out on a paper ticket before your phone is locked away in a Yondr pouch. If you would like to transfer tickets to other members of your party, please do so before the event.

No mobile phones, smart watches/accessories, cameras or recording devices will be allowed in the arena at this event.  Upon arrival, all phones and smart watches/accessories will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be unlocked at the end of the show. Guests maintain possession of their phones throughout the night, and if needed, may access their phones at designated Yondr phone zones located on the arena concourses.

Age restriction:16+

Micky Flanagan is back with a brand-new live show ‘If Ever We Needed It…’, he’s been double busy writing and it’s already proved a hit with fans. He’ll bring his live show to The O2 for multiple dates in May and June 2023.

He’s the man who gave Britain the “Out Out” phrase, which was used by Piccadilly Circus tube to put a smile on commuters’ faces as we came out out of Lockdown and went on to be used by TFL to encourage people back into theatres, restaurants and clubs.  Micky cut his comedy teeth at these clubs and it clearly paid off. His routines online, including the Perks of Peeping, The Shits Abroad, The Crafty Cockney, Tomato Sauce and Chicken Children, have been viewed in the hundred millions, and are a huge hit on TikTok. He keeps us laughing through the tough times – and if ever we needed it, it’s now! 

Additional Ticket Information

Important Information - How to download your tickets on The O2 app

For this show, if you’ve purchased your tickets from theo2.co.uk or AXS.com you’ll need to display your ticket on your phone via The O2 app. Ticket purchasers will receive an email with news and information on  AXS Mobile ID tickets  and how you can download your tickets to your phone. 

If you’ve bought your tickets for this show via AXS then you can re-sell your tickets with AXS Official Resale   which gives you a safe, simple, and fair way to buy and sell tickets.

For more information on re-selling tickets from AXS and other ticket agents  click here .  

Please note:  If you purchase  resale   tickets for this show through any website other than via theo2.co.uk or axs.com, your tickets may not be valid and access to the venue could be refused.

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MICKY FLANAGAN announces 3Arena, Dublin show

• 3 Arena, Dublin

He’s the man who gave Britain the “ Out Out ” phrase, which was used by Piccadilly Circus tube to put a smile on commuters’ faces as we came out out of Lockdown and went on to be used by TFL to encourage people back into theatres, restaurants and clubs.  Micky cut his comedy teeth at these clubs and it clearly paid off.

His routines online, including the Perks of Peeping, The Shits Abroad, The Crafty Cockney, The Demise of Fingering, Tomato Sauce and Chicken Children, have been viewed in the hundred millions, and are a huge hit on TikTok. He keeps us laughing through the tough times – and if ever we needed it, it’s now!  

‘ Shakes the rafters with laughter’ Evening Standard ‘ The country’s most popular comic’ The Guardian ‘ On the form of his life’ The Times

Micky’s been double busy writing the new show and it’s already proved a hit with fans, he’s even been doing matinees.  

#mickyflanagan  absolutely brilliant in Southend this afternoon on his warm up show – you’re in for a treat !  @MickyF_Official

The boy’s as funny as hell and it’s only the warm-up shows  #iknowitsanemptystage

Just got back from seeing Micky Flanagan pre tour show in Blackpool. Ridiculously funny! If that’s a warm-up, the tour will be hysterical!

The current run of shows starts in Bournemouth on 15th March and includes Dublin, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and finishes in London on 13th May . The show covers Micky turning 60 – who’d have thought it? – as well as having sex with your glasses on, his school alumni and his ballbag. It’s fair to say it’s for over-16s.

Micky Flanagan

Friday 24 March

3Arena Dublin

Tickets on sale: Saturday 25th February at 10am

From Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.ie

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MICKY FLANAGAN – 3Arena, Dublin

MICKY FLANAGAN

is back with a brand-new live show.

If Ever We Needed It…

Micky’s been double busy writing the new show and it’s already proved a hit with fans, he’s even been doing matinees.

#mickyflanagan  absolutely brilliant in Southend this afternoon on his warm up show – you’re in for a treat !  @MickyF_Official

The boy’s as funny as hell and it’s only the warm-up shows  #iknowitsanemptystage

Just got back from seeing Micky Flanagan pre tour show in Blackpool. Ridiculously funny! If that’s a warm-up, the tour will be hysterical!

The current run of shows starts in Bournemouth on 15th March and includes Dublin, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and finishes in London on 13th May.   The show covers Micky turning 60 – who’d have thought it? – as well as having sex with your glasses on, his school alumni and his ballbag. It’s fair to say it’s for over-16s.

IF EVER WE NEEDED IT….

Wednesday 15 th  March                              Bournemouth                                International Centre

Friday 24 th  March                                         Dublin                                              3Arena

Thursday 30 th  March                                   Birmingham                                    Utilita Arena

Thursday 13 April                                         Glasgow                                          OVO Hydro

Thursday 20 th  April                                      Leeds                                               First Direct Arena

Thursday 11 th  May                                       London                                            The O2

Friday 12 th  May                                            London                                            The O2

Saturday 13 th  May                                       London                                            The O2

Tickets on sale 10am Saturday 25 th  February 2023

He’s the man who gave Britain the “ Out Out ” phrase, which was used by Piccadilly Circus tube to put a smile on commuters’ faces as we came out out of Lockdown and went on to be used by TFL to encourage people back into theatres, restaurants and clubs.  Micky cut his comedy teeth at these clubs and it clearly paid off.

His routines online, including the Perks of Peeping, The Shits Abroad, The Crafty Cockney, The Demise of Fingering, Tomato Sauce and Chicken Children, have been viewed in the hundred millions, and are a huge hit on TikTok. He keeps us laughing through the tough times – and if ever we needed it, it’s now!

‘ Shakes the rafters with laughter’  Evening Standard ‘ The country’s most popular comic’  The Guardian ‘ On the form of his life’  The Times

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Micky Flanagan

Friday 24 March

3Arena Dublin

Tickets on sale: Saturday 25th February at 10am

From Ticketmaster  www.ticketmaster.ie

www.3arena.ie

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Micky flanagan fan report: ratings and reviews, 12 reviews (ø 4.75), just what we needed.

Couldn’t get tickets in London so travelled to Blackpool to see this very funny man and wasn’t disappointed. Looking forward to seeing the finished performance in London 😁 😜

Welcome back. We’ve missed you

Don’t want to say too much or give too much away but Micky was his fabulous funny self. It’s been way too long. It was so good to see you doing what you do best x

Is he the funniest man on the planet

Had a great time really funny man ,very naturally funny bloke had the audience in stitches from start to finish

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