NO subject is off limits for a Bradford-born comedian as he brings his national stand-up tour to his home city and talks about his own childhood experiences of sexual abuse.

Jonny Pelham, who grew up in Undercliffe, is stopping off in Bradford next month on his first UK tour, 'Off Limits'.

He will play his homecoming date at The Alhambra Studio on Friday, March 18, where he will share his experiences as a child sexual abuse survivor.

 

Jonny, who has appeared on TV comedy shows including Mock The Week and Live at the Apollo, says it took him 18 years to open up about what happened to him when he was eight, but admits he feels better for doing so.

During his new stand-up show he also discusses going on his first date when he was 25 and his previous experience of living in a squat.

He adds he treats the subject of his abuse with sensitivity during his show.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Stand-up comedian Jonny Pelham, who grew up in Bradford Stand-up comedian Jonny Pelham, who grew up in Bradford

Jonny said: "It's quite a heavy topic, my show deals with my sexual abuse as a child.

"I have no desire to be flippant and normalise it when I talk about it.

It is important to treat the subject with respect. The show does that

"I don't want people to feel that I'm being flippant about this issue. This did happen to me.

"It took me 18 years to talk about it. When I did, my life got better."

 

Meanwhile, Jonny, who is now based in Manchester, says he is especially nervous about his Bradford tour date and has to pinch himself over his TV appearances.

He said: "It's really exciting to be doing this tour. It just feels like a lovely step forward in my career.

"It's amazing to be back out there after the last two years. I was gigging two or three times a week before the pandemic and then it all got shut down.

"Doing live comedy is what I love doing.

"Bradford will be the most special date. That's the one I will be the most nervous for.

"I don't know who is going to rock up for that, maybe someone who taught me at school when I was 15.

"I come home a fair bit. I still have family in Bradford and I love it as a place.

"It's just exciting to be doing TV shows like Mock The Week, something I watched Russell Howard and Frankie Boyle on when I was 15. To now be on it, means I have to pinch myself a bit."

Jonny Pelham is bringing his word-of-mouth smash hit show, ‘Off Limits’, to venues nationwide as part of his debut UK tour with upcoming shows at Leeds’s Hyde Park Book Club on March 3, and Bradford’s Alhambra Studio on March 18. For full dates and tickets, visit jonnypelham.com