The ‘Bruce Wayne of comedy’ set for Leeside show next month

By Finnian Cox

It’s not easy living a double life as a comedian and foster parent, but that hasn’t stopped Welsh comic Kiri Pritchard-McLean from announcing a gig in Cork next month.

Her show at Coughlan’s in Cork city on 23 November is one of four Irish performances, which will also see her perform in Dublin, Dundalk, and Belfast, as a part of her new tour, Peacock.

The tour announcement comes after what McLean describes as a busy year, after she made the decision to become a foster parent, something that will be explored in the set.

Pritchard-McLean revealed that she hasn’t told the children in her care about her work yet, with the double-life leading her to describe herself as the “Bruce Wayne of comedy, but without the mansions”.

It’s been a long road to get her new show approved and ready to rock, a process she said saw her deliver one of the “eggiest gigs” of her career to a boardroom of social workers.

The new show comes with the support of Foster Wales, a non-profit organisation that aims to find foster homes for children.

The charity has commended her for the support, with the head of the organisation, Alastair Cope, saying that the show will “challenge false perceptions” about what it means to be a foster carer.

“We hope that through Kiri candidly sharing her fostering journey, people will recognise skills and qualities in themselves and consider putting in an enquiry to foster,” he said.

Foster Wales isn’t the only charity benefitting from the tour – Pritchard McLean will also work with Pens for Kids, a charity that collects pens and distributes them globally to children who need them. By no means a newcomer to standup comedy, Mclean has hosted Live at the Apollo as well as appearing on well-loved and widely watched shows such as 'QI', and 'Have I Got News For You'. The tour will leave no topics unexplored, with everything from First Aid training classes to what not to do when a vicar searches for you on YouTube.

She also presents a weekly show for BBC4, with her panel show 'Best Medicine' recently commissioned for its second series. Pritchard McLean also hosts the 'All Killa no Filla' podcast, which has gained a cult following for its explorations of serial killers.

Tickets for the gig in Coughlan’s can be purchased from the venue’s website, with the show starting at 7.30pm on 23 November. Tickets at €18.