Live comedy is a bellwether art form. A comedian thinks of a joke and delivers it that night.
So when two stand-up Strictly winners – Bill Bailey and Chris McCausland – tour at the same time with shows riffing on AI, we’re moving from fear to mockery.
Bailey tackles the machine head-on, attempting to incorporate AI into the set, then giving up. It’s just not funny.
McCausland is more traditional, pointing out that the Terminator’s dystopia was 2029, only four years away. He diverts with tales of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rural Austrian accent – “I’ll be right back, my sweetheart”.
Both admit the halo of Strictly is unlikely to fade. Bailey is still a selfie magnet and McCausland fears that after 21 years of comedy he’ll be known for dancing.
Judging by the cheers, Strictly fans bought a lot of tickets. These comics wouldn’t have wooed a light entertainment crowd without the show.
Strictly bankrolling subversive stand-up? The ultimate unintended consequence.
