Forgotten figure back in forefront

Oct 10 2008

A FORGOTTEN figure of early ‘80s live comedy, Ted Chippington’s mundane, dry and repetitive routines polarised gig-goers.

Running through seemingly limitless variations of the same gag, abuse and a bottling were regular occurrences, as he recalls: “This character came up to me after the show and said, ‘you see this knife? I’d like to see it in your stomach.’”

Naturally, the threat was quickly batted back with a typically dry Chippington response: “I said, ‘sorry mate, I don’t do tricks’.”

With no alternative comedy circuit at the time, Chippington supported bands such as The Fall at major music venues around Birmingham and the UK. He also recorded a single with post-punk/new Wave Brum acts The Nightingales and Fuzzbox (Rockin’ With Rita), released one hard-to-find album (Man In A Suitcase) and even popped up on BBC1’s lunchtime magazine programme Pebble Mill At One before – fed up with his rising cult status and fearful of becoming complacent – retiring to America where he became a lorry driver, then a cook.

But unbeknownst to him, a younger generation were watching and learning, notably Stewart Lee, Richard Herring and Phil Jupitus, whose vocal support for his total disregard of the conventions of stand-up has prompted something of an unexpected revival for the balding former teddy boy.

Utterly out of sync with the times, Chippington is now seen as the precursor to a wave of ‘80s ‘alternative comedians’, the forgotten link between such acts as The Comic Strip, Frank Sidebottom and Reeves & Mortimer.

Catch him at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath tonight. Tickets from 0121 444 2081.