Two shows celebrating the poetry, prose and life of comedian Sean Hughes have been released as a digital download.
The tributes, both hosted by Adam Hills, feature the likes of Reece Shearsmith, Joe Lycett, Johnny Vegas and Peter Capaldi.
The first was recorded in December 2018 – 14 months after Hughes’s death at 51 from the from the effects of cirrhosis – at the intimate Downstairs at The King's Head comedy club in Crouch End, North London.
At the venue – thought to be the first venue in London that Sean played – comedians and actors read extracts of his poetry and prose, and shared stories of their friendship.
The show was entitled It's What He Would've Wanted, the title of Hughes’s second novel, and spawed another celebration the following year, It's (Still) What He Would've Wanted. This took place in the bigger space of the Soho Theatre, the last London venue Sean performed in, on what would have been his 54th birthday.
Recordings of both shows have now been released as a double set by indie label Go Faster Stripe. The company says: ‘Sean is very much missed, but now is a good time to share these special evenings for more people to enjoy.’
As with the original Soho show, proceeds will go to homeless charity Shelter.
However the company warns that the nights were not professionally shot so while ‘perfectly watchable,’ the picture is a bit grainy
Hughes would have turned 57 last Thursday.
It's What He Would Have Wanted features Terry Alderton, Ben Bailey Smith, Peter Capaldi, Dave Cohen, Peter Davison, Peter F Gardiner, Caroline Harker, Elizabeth Heery, Nick Helm, Adam Hills (MC), Connie Hyde, Ella Kenion, Blair Plant, Reece Shearsmith and Johnny Vegas.
It's (still) What He Would Have Wanted features Ben Bailey Smith, Clint Boon, Dave Cohen, Dave Fulton, David Gedge, Caroline Harker, John Hegley, Adam Hills (MC), Connie Hyde, Ella Kenion, Joe Lycett, Owen O'Neill and Reece Shearsmith.
Here is a short sample from the shows:
• The shows are available here, priced £10 for a package which includes both audio and video version of both tributes.
