Jack Whitehall has added extra London dates to the final leg of his Settle Down tour. One of those dates will be at Fairfield Halls in Croydon and anyone with tickets to that show could well be in for a memorable night in particular.
Speaking exclusively, Jack revealed that the extra Croydon date has an “added element of danger” as his girlfriend’s family are from the area and will be in the audience. His partner, Roxy Horners, aunts and cousins will be coming down to watch him for the first time.
Jack said, “It is will be one that has that extra element of danger because Roxy, my girlfriend, who has featured a lot on the show has quite a lot of family in Croydon. I’ll start with a routine about the intimacy of our relationship or bedroom antics or embarrassing stories from our home life and then I’ll look at the audience and accidentally make eye contact with her aunt who will give me a look from the stands.”
The model is from Essex and the comedian has performed in front of other family members during “tense evenings in Colchester, and been surprised by different parts of her family”. He added: “I felt that, from a sadomasochistic point of view, I needed to put myself through that ordeal again in Croydon.
“So if there’s an awkward atmosphere in the room, that’s why, and if I’m sweating profusely at any point, that’s also why.” Jack and Roxy recently welcomed their daughter Elsie into the world and his tour focuses on where he his life right now as a new father.
He said it’s a reflection of him “reluctantly growing up”, as he’s moved in with his girlfriend, got a dog and now has a child. He’s had to adjust and find a balance between touring and spending time with his newborn, which is why much of the last leg of the tour is in the South.
On becoming a father, he said: “It’s been amazing. You know, nothing can really prepare you for that. I definitely appreciate nights in a hotel a little more than I did before because I can get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Likewise, I miss my girlfriend and my daughter a lot more when I’m traveling.
He shared that Elsie has already become a “punch line” during his show. Jack said: “Everyone in my orbit, my friends and family, no one is really safe. I’ve always said nothing is sacred but when we were pregnant I thought my baby would be the exception.
“But before she even arrived, she was part of the routine. I photoshopped one of the scanned images and had it up on the big screen. This baby hadn’t even come into the world yet and she was already a punch line. That trend has continued as I’ve tweaked the show and added new bits here and there.
“I just hope it’s not something she’s talking about with a therapist in twenty years.” Jack said he can’t wait for his first Christmas with Elsie, to take her to Winter Wonderland and decorate the house but in the meantime is “laser focused on Croydon” and impressing Roxy’s family.
He joked: “Maybe I’ll stop after that, the night in Croydon will be so incredible I’ll feel like I’ve peaked as an artist.” After the tour ends in December, Jack will film a documentary for Netflix with his father called Fatherhood with my father, where the hilarious duo will explore all aspects of modern parenting.
Jack said: “I might get a little more advice from him when the cameras are rolling. He usually holds it back until he gets his pay cheque. I’m sure that’s what he’s waiting for.”
Tickets to see Jack in Croydon, or at Drury Lane and Wembley can be bought here.
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