Paul Mayhew-Archer presents
The Incurable Optimist
Paul Mayhew-Archer has been making audiences laugh for 45 years.
He produced several series of the Radio Four Classic “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” and co-wrote with Richard Curtis the multi-award-winning and much-loved sitcom “The Vicar Of Dibley”. He also worked with Richard again to adapt Roald Dahl’s “Esio Trot” starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman.
Fourteen years ago, Paul was told he had Parkinson’s and he decided to carry on laughing. He started doing jokes about his condition at fundraising events at The Royal Albert Hall and London’s Comedy Store. Later he made a BBC Documentary “Parkinson’s: The Funny Side” and won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Presenter of The Year. Then in 2023 he and five friends with Parkinson’s - the presenters Jeremy Paxman, Rory Cellan-Jones, Mark Mardell and Gillian Lacey-Solymar, and the Judge Nick Mostyn - got together to make a podcast called “Movers and Shakers” which has become more popular and influential than any of them thought possible and won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s Podcast of The Year Award.
Paul also travels around the country performing his one-man show “Incurable Optimist”. It’s show that’s full of funny stories about his career and his condition and he does it to raise awareness of Parkinson’s, to raise money for local Parkies and because he absolutely loves hearing people laugh.
Oh… he’s thrilled to be coming to Hull.
Paul Mayhew-Archer has been making audiences laugh for 45 years.
He produced several series of the Radio Four Classic “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” and co-wrote with Richard Curtis the multi-award-winning and much-loved sitcom “The Vicar Of Dibley”. He also worked with Richard again to adapt Roald Dahl’s “Esio Trot” starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman.
Fourteen years ago, Paul was told he had Parkinson’s and he decided to carry on laughing. He started doing jokes about his condition at fundraising events at The Royal Albert Hall and London’s Comedy Store. Later he made a BBC Documentary “Parkinson’s: The Funny Side” and won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Presenter of The Year. Then in 2023 he and five friends with Parkinson’s - the presenters Jeremy Paxman, Rory Cellan-Jones, Mark Mardell and Gillian Lacey-Solymar, and the Judge Nick Mostyn - got together to make a podcast called “Movers and Shakers” which has become more popular and influential than any of them thought possible and won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s Podcast of The Year Award.
Paul also travels around the country performing his one-man show “Incurable Optimist”. It’s show that’s full of funny stories about his career and his condition and he does it to raise awareness of Parkinson’s, to raise money for local Parkies and because he absolutely loves hearing people laugh.
Oh… he’s thrilled to be coming to Hull.
Event Details
Running Time: 1 hour 50 mins (inc. a break)