If someone told you arguably the best stand-up comedian in the world performed an impromptu set in a small Islington pub over the Bank Holiday, you’d say they were having a laugh.
And dozens of punters were – after Louis CK strolled up to the bar in The Bill Murray, Queen’s Head Street, and asked if he could do a set.
The American comic and actor, who sold out Wembley Arena last year, had obviously heard good things about the crowdfunded venue run by Angel Comedy Club and thought he’d drop in to test out some new material.
Dec Munro, co-founder of The Bill Murray, told the Gazette: “It was 9.30pm on Sunday and he came to the Bill Murray with no agents or anything. He walked through and said: ‘Hi, I’m a comedian is there any chance of doing a set?’.
“The first person working at the bar didn’t know who he was. The second said: ‘Oh my god!’”
Unfortunately there was no sets on at the Bill Murray, so staff walked him around the corner to sister venue The Camden Head in Camden Passage.
“The MC, Sam Russell, was just wrapping up,” Dec continued. “Someone shouted from the back that there was another comedian and the MC was a bit confused and he came off to chat with the stage management – he didn’t know who it was. So he got back on and was like: ‘Okay, there’s one further act’ and someone shouted: ‘It’s Louis CK’.
“He said: ‘What?!’. He had to be professional and introduce him, but he thought it was a joke.”
“CK walked on and did about 15 minutes, although the first five minutes were him being like: ‘If you’re into comedy, you might know who I am.’ Because like 20 per cent of the crowd was thinking: ‘Who is this guy?’ and the other 80pc were going crazy.”
Dec thinks Louis CK might have heard about the venue through other American stand-ups who have performed there, or through being on comedian Daniel Kitson’s mailing list.
Either way, it’s a pretty impressive coup for a venue that only opened in November on the back of a £46,000 fundraising drive.
“We’ve been really lucky,” said Dec. “We’ve had Daniel Kitson do loads of shows, Eddie Izzard came in and Russell Howard and John Bishop do too.
“But I’m always joking with the guys that the ultimate would be Louis CK.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here