Pioneering comic hits his crowdfunding target

The memoirs of alternative comedy forerunner John Dowie are to be published after the former comedian hit his crowdfunding target.

He raised more than £10,000 on publishing platform Unbound from more than 300 donors keen to have a copy of The Freewheeling John Dowie.

The book will cover both his career, and his passion for cycling which he pursued after quitting comedy.

He said: ‘It's done! My sincere thanks to everyone who contributed, especially those who gave so freely of their time, tweeting, emailing, pleading and cajoling until the world caved in and we reached our target. Exciting!’

When he launched the fundraising drive in March, Dowie said 'If you're thinking of becoming a stand-up comedian (and who isn't?) then here's some advice: don't start doing it in 1972. I did, and it was a mistake. In 1972 there were no comedy clubs, no comedy agents and no comedy future.'

But his timing meant that by the time the alternative comedy scene exploded as the 1970s turned into the 1980s, he was well placed. 'With it came more gigs, more money and a lot more comedians,' he says. 'By the 1990s, comedy was big business and about to get even bigger. It was then, with impeccable comedy timing, that I packed it all in.'

After quitting stand-up in 1995, he worked as a director and wrote for radio and TV as well as the theatre, most notably Jesus My Boy, which was performed in the West End with Tom Conti.

In 2005 he retired from theatrical work altogether so he could concentrate on his cycling hobby.

As part of the fundraising efforts, Dowie performed his first comedy show in 14 years back in May,  at which he read extracts from the autobiography. Here is our review.

Copies of The Freewheeling John Dowie can be ordered from Unbound here.

Published: 9 Dec 2016