Last year Carl Donnelly did a show about how much he’s enjoying life. Then life decided to challenge him on that.
He’s currently touring his new show Another Round – including two East Anglian stops – where he brings you up to speed on how he’s settling into being a married, middle-aged father with recurring stomach ulcers, a bald patch and an internet search history that now includes ‘anti-leakage boxer shorts.’
Tell us what the show is about
The show is about how I tempted fate last year by doing a show about how good I felt entering middle age. Then a series of unfortunate events happened to remind me to wind my neck in.
I’ll be taking people through such funny stories as me getting internal bleeding on a cruise ship plus more!
How has the tour been so far?
I’m really enjoying this show so far. It’s changing constantly which is fun. It started in Australia where I felt I had to slightly shield them from some of the more graphic parts (they’re a lovely bunch but not as hardy as the Brits).
Since I’ve started doing it in the UK I’ve felt a bit more cavalier about getting into some of the more tricky parts. There is now quite an extended story about me getting an endoscopy and colonoscopy in the same afternoon while awake…
What’s your favourite part of touring? What’s the hardest part?
I really like spending time mooching around towns and cities on my own.
I’ve never been one of these comedians that sits in their hotel room until show time. I need to get out and see what’s happening wherever I am. I do all the tourist stuff too.
I was in Stratford-upon-Avon recently and went on a guided Shakespeare walking tour on my own. It was great.
The hardest part is the interval of the show. As I don’t have a support act (I like to do two halves myself) I often have a really fun first half but then have to just go and sit in a quiet dressing room alone while I can hear the audience out in the bar having a lovely time!
What are you up to when not on stage? What future projects are in store?
I’m mainly playing with my daughter during the days at the moment. Her school sadly had to shut and there’s a window of time until she starts her new school where I’ve made the foolhardy decision to homeschool.
That means the main project I’m currently working on is designing a syllabus for a 5-year-old who is obsessed with Star Wars, unicorns and fairies. She has requested I run it as a Jedi training school, which I’ve got some plans for.
- Carl Donnelly is touring nationally, including Norwich Arts Centre on 23 October 2025, and Cambridge Junction on 6 December 2025.
