Tom Lucy

Guildford-born stand up comedian Tom Lucy is only nineteen years old and has already supported the likes of Harry Hill, Simon Amstell and Russell Howard on tour. Upon walking on stage, Lucy has expressed that the first thing on his agenda is often to address his young age: “It’s almost like having a physical disability or something; you have to mention it as soon as you get on stage, or it makes people nervous.” He’s not apologetic for being so young, though, and at no point does Tom make any attempt to spout advice to those who have lived longer than him; there is, somewhat refreshingly, no sense of self-entitlement to be seen.

It’s worth questioning, then, whether being young in the comedy industry is something that serves to benefit a performer (this draws a neat parallel with MoodyComedy, with the site first coming into existence when I was fifteen; it is very much a case of trial and error, and learning as we go along). It seems that Tom has been able to use his apparent innocence to his advantage, with his cool-headed demeanour on stage giving the impression of experience way beyond his years. Any nerves are cleverly concealed, masked by an array of quirky mannerisms that he may not even be aware that he is doing. His material is honest and relatable, often covering issues relating to puberty and relationships, though Lucy still manages to appeal to an older audience as well. Unsurprising, then, that he has recently been crowned Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year.

For more information, visit Tom Lucy’s website and follow him on Twitter.

MAY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH