Comedian heading to Worcester as he tries to find funny side of his Parkinson's diagnosis
Paul Mayhew-Archer, who co-wrote The Vicar of Dibley, will be talking about his life in Worcester next week
The co-writer of BBC hit comedy The Vicar Of Dibley is bringing his show about living with Parkinson’s to Worcester next week as part of the Worcester Festival.
Paul Mayhew-Archer’s comedy show, Incurable Optimist, sees him make light of his condition - including symptoms such as freezing when he walks through doors and constipation.
In 2011, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, which is a progressive neurological condition with over 40 symptoms and there is currently no cure.
Despite the serious nature of the condition, Mr Mayhew-Archer was determined to see the lighter side and started writing jokes about it, with appearances at the Royal Albert Hall and The Comedy Store.
In 2015, he made an award-winning documentary about it called Parkinson’s - The Funny Side, and he recently started co-hosting the hugely popular podcast Movers and Shakers with Jeremy Paxman and others about the realities of living with the condition.
He started performing his one-man show, Incurable Optimist, in 2018 and he said comedy is his way of dealing with the condition.
In this special performance to raise money for Parkinson’s UK’s Worcester support group, Mr Mayhew-Archer will bring his original show with new material about what has happened since. Paul also hopes to raise awareness of Parkinson’s through doing the show.
The show will also feature Mr Mayhew-Archer talking about his life trying to make the nation laugh as a writer, producer and script editor of some of the nation’s favourite comedies.
Alan and Lynn Nokes, from Parkinson’s UK’s Worcester support group say: “We would like to thank Paul for giving up his time to not only raise awareness of the condition but for also raising much-needed funds for our group.
“Many of us loved watching the Vicar of Dibley and we can’t wait to see his entertaining show when he brings it to Worcester in August.”
The show will be at St Martin's Church on Thursday. Tickets are on sale now and proceeds go directly to Parkinson’s UK’s Worcester support group.
Paul is also an Ambassador for cancer support charity Maggie’s and he was awarded an MBE for services to people with Parkinson’s and people with cancer.