James Acaster has announced his first HBO comedy special, titled “Hecklers Welcome.”
The stand-up hour will debut on HBO and Max on Nov. 23 and will find the British comic exploring his “love/hate relationship with stand-up by relinquishing control of his set and accepting a healthy dose of audience interference – aka heckling.”
During his previous show, “Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999,” Acaster faced an increased number of hecklers, leading him to question whether he wanted to continue performing stand-up comedy. With “Hecklers Welcome,” which he has been touring since 2022, Acaster has cleverly surrendered to unruly audience members.
Related Stories
Per the logline, “With his wiry observational eye and incomparable wit, Acaster shares hilarious on-the-fly meta-analysis of his own material, along with stories from his childhood that spurred him to pursue a career in comedy — from his participation in his grandmother’s spinning wheel workshop at school to his impersonation of Prince Charles at age six. In front of an obliging audience at the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton, England, Acaster unleashes his infectious energy as he delves into what initially drew him to the stage and what keeps him there.”
Popular on Variety
In the trailer, Acaster performs in the round, goading the audience to disrupt his typically carefully crafted act. In one scene, an alligator mascot comes out and throws a soccer ball on stage.
“Hecklers Welcome” is produced and directed by Stuart Laws. Alastair Clayton and Nick Long also produce, and Amy Tuckwell is a co-producer.
Acaster is a comedian, author and podcast host who scored five consecutive nominations for best comedy show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 2012 to 2016. In 2017, he toured the country with a three-show trilogy — “Recognise,” “Represent” and “Reset” — performing consecutively over three nights in each venue.
Acaster is also the author of “Classic Scrapes,” “Perfect Sound Whatever” and “James Acaster’s Guide to Quitting Social Media.” He also has three podcasts: “Off Menu,” which he co-hosts with Ed Gamble; “Perfect Sounds”; and “Springleaf,” which he wrote and stars in.
Watch the trailer for “Hecklers Welcome” below.
