Comedy promoter dies at 79

Tributes have been paid to comedy club promoter Eugene Cheese after his death at the age of 79.

He and his wife Margaret ran London’s Chuckle Club for 25 years, in several venues including the bar of the London School of Economics.

Comics including Lee Evans, Mark Thomas, Mark Lamarr, Jenny Eclair and Sean Hughes played the club in their early years.

Cheese - whose real name was Paul Jay - also hosted the nights with corny gags and getting the audience to sing a rowdy version of the Chuckle Club song or Minnie The Moocher.

Robin William popped in to do a secret gig in 2008 - his first UK gig in 25 years. Jay said at the time: 'It was the thrill of my life to have Robin Williams. He was marvellous - very, very funny. We've had virtually all the names The Comedy Store's had over the years apart from Robin Williams. It's fair to say it was my lifetime ambition to have him and I thought it was never going to happen.'

Among those paying tribute online tonight were comedian Simon Bligh who wrote: ‘Weeks after moving to London (1987) to become Alternative Comedians me and my friends Trev and Simon did an open spot  at his famously fantastic Chuckle Club off Oxford Street. We all got booked and Trev and Simon got a telly show after being seen there.

Everyone did it, including Robin Williams. Always a wonderful gig, down to his unique, odd charm and the alchemy of the room. Small, packed together crowd and 12 inches away from the just-the-right height low stage'

Fellow stand-up Don Bissau’s wrote: kR.I.P. to Eugene Cheese. The founder of the legendary Chuckle club. He gave me opportunities to do pro sets even though I was a newer act. I will never forget that. Paul, his real name, was a top bloke who I was in contact with and even visited him and Margaret, his wife. Today we lost one of comedy's good guys. My condolences to Margaret and the rest of the family. xxx Thank you for the great memories."

Liz Carr posted: 'Genuinely so sad to hear this news - one of the more accessible clubs and Paul always gave me a chance - even if i was shit, he'd get me back. In recent years we'd compare notes about disability and he'd message now and again with clips. I think i'll go play minnie the moocher...'

Matt Kirshem posted: 'Aw that's sad. One of the first clubs where I got to share the stage with Big Proper Comedians.'

And Henry Ginsberg wrote: ‘When I started stand up, the Chuckle Club at LSE bar was one of my favourite gigs both to perform at and watch others at. It’s one of the nights that always gets brought up in conversations with comics about old gigs that we miss.’

Published: 15 Feb 2023