Jack Dee is marking 40 years in stand-up comedy with a brand new UK tour titled “Jack’s Joke Show,” which comes with the cheeky promise of “guaranteed no new material.” The jack dee tour celebrates four decades since his first open mic appearance at London’s Comedy Store in 1986, with dates running through 2027 and a special gala at the London Palladium .
What Is “Jack’s Joke Show”?
The premise is simple and deliberately ironic. Jack Dee has assembled his favourite old jokes, stories, and anecdotes into a show that doubles as a comedic memoir . Rather than new material, audiences get a curated selection of the gags that have intrigued him throughout his life and career.
The official description frames it as a glimpse into the influences that shaped his comedy . It is a retrospective in the truest sense, tracing the lines and stories that led him from a punter at the Comedy Store to one of Britain’s most enduring stand-up comedians.
The Guardian described the tagline as “cheeky,” noting it comes courtesy of “comedy’s most enduring curmudgeon” . The show celebrates his favourite old gags and the role they played in his life, making it as much a personal history as a comedy set.
The 40-Year Milestone
Jack Dee’s career began in 1986 at the Comedy Store in London . He attended as an audience member, watched performers like Jeremy Hardy and Paul Merton, and signed up for the open mic slot that same night . The Irish Examiner reported that he walked on stage with no material, following a comic who had been booed off .
That first performance was a baptism by fire, but it led to a try-out the following week and the start of a four-decade career . The upcoming tour is designed to mark that milestone properly, celebrating not just his longevity but the craft of joke-telling itself.Quick Bio: Jack Dee
Note on Net Worth: Reliable figures for Jack Dee’s personal net worth are not available from authoritative sources. A Times report noted that his production company Open Mike Productions had revenues of £22m, with Dee owning 45% of the company . However, this does not directly equate to his personal net worth, so no figure is included here.
Edinburgh Fringe Run
Before the full UK tour, Jack Dee road-tested the show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2026 . He performed seven nights at the Assembly Rooms Ballroom from 17 to 23 August, with most tickets priced at £22 .
The Fringe run served as a preview for the material and the format. Reviews and listings from Chortle and the British Comedy Guide confirmed the show’s structure and its focus on old stories rather than new writing . It was a low-key but fitting way to launch a tour built around looking backward.
Anniversary Gala at the London Palladium
A special one-off gala took place at the London Palladium on 18 September 2026, titled “Jack Dee & Friends – 40 Years in Comedy” . The evening featured Jack joined by some of the friends he has made throughout his career, promising a unique night of comedy .
Profits from the gala were donated to St Christopher’s Hospice and The North London Hospice . The event was held in memory of Jeremy Hardy and Sean Lock, two comedians who were both colleagues and friends . The charitable element added a layer of poignancy to what was otherwise a celebratory occasion.
Full 2027 UK Tour
The main UK tour runs from February to June 2027, with over 40 dates announced by Off The Kerb . Venues span the country, from major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds to smaller theatres in Scarborough, Lichfield, and Aberystwyth.
In February, the tour visits Milton Keynes, Southend, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Sheffield, Scarborough, Stockton, Durham, Tewkesbury, Swindon, Wolverhampton, and Birmingham . March brings shows in Hornchurch, Chelmsford, Newbury, Windsor, Lichfield, Farnham, Oxford, Derby, Coventry, and Exeter .
April includes dates in Barnstaple, Frome, Northampton, Salisbury, Malvern, Chester, Richmond, Stamford, Hertford, Bromley, Crewe, and Leeds . May takes the tour to Liverpool, Cardiff, Hereford, Yeovil, Carmarthen, Newtown, Aberystwyth, Taunton, Plymouth, Lancaster, Stoke-on-Trent, York, and Manchester .
The final leg in June features shows in Stratford-upon-Avon, Dundee, Aberdeen, and Perth . This extensive schedule reflects Dee’s continued popularity and his willingness to tour widely rather than restrict himself to major arenas.
How to Get Tickets
Tickets are available through official channels including Ticketmaster, individual venue box offices, and Off The Kerb . Booking directly with venues often provides the most reliable availability and avoids secondary market markups.
Given the scale of the tour and the milestone it represents, early booking is advisable for popular venues. The London Palladium gala and Edinburgh Fringe dates have already passed, but the 2027 UK tour offers ample opportunities to see the show across the country.
Why This Tour Matters
Jack Dee’s career extends well beyond stand-up. He has hosted “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” on BBC Radio 4 since 2009 and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2001 . His deadpan, curmudgeonly persona has made him a fixture of British comedy for a generation.
Yet “Jack’s Joke Show” returns him to his roots. It is a show about jokes themselves, about the stories that first made him laugh, and about the craft of telling them well. For audiences, it offers a rare chance to hear a master comedian reflect on four decades of making people laugh, one old gag at a time.What is Jack Dee’s new tour called?
The tour is titled “Jack’s Joke Show” . It celebrates his 40 years in stand-up comedy and is described as a compilation of his favourite old jokes and where they belong in his life story .
Does the show really have no new material?
Yes, that’s the deliberate premise. The show is officially advertised with the promise of “guaranteed no new material” . Instead, Jack Dee takes audiences on a memoir of his favourite old stories, jokes and funny anecdotes that have intrigued him over the decades .
When and where did Jack Dee road-test the show?
He performed “Jack’s Joke Show” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2026, with seven nights at the Assembly Rooms Ballroom from 17 to 23 August . He also did work-in-progress shows earlier in the summer, including at The Royal Oak in New Malden and The Exchange in Twickenham .
What is the “Jack Dee & Friends – 40 Years in Comedy” event?
It is a special anniversary gala at the London Palladium on 18 September 2026 . The event features Jack Dee joined by friends from his career, with proceeds going to St Christopher’s Hospice and North London Hospice .
When does the full UK tour take place?
The main UK tour runs from February to June 2027, with over 40 dates announced by Off The Kerb . Venues span the country, from major cities like Birmingham and Manchester to smaller theatres in Scarborough, Aberystwyth and Perth .
