Local Comedian Launches Lockdown Charity Children's Joke Book

Herts based, award-winning stand up comedian Philip Simon has launched a children’s joke book based on his well-loved children’s lockdown homeschooling comedy YouTube show, School's Out Comedy Club. All profits from the sale of the book will go to food waste charity, FareShare.

School's Out Comedy Club was created early in lockdown in April 2020 by the founder of the Borehamwood Comedy Club as a way to keep children (and himself) entertained whilst schools and venues were closed. Each episode consisted of jokes sent in by the young viewers themselves, and delivered with aplomb by Philip, mixed in with some of his own child friendly material.

The popularity of the show has led Philip to put all the jokes together in a new children's joke book, with each joke accredited to the child (and a few adults) who sent them in. Profits form the book will raise funds for FareShare, the hunger and food waste charity supporting families and children, which was brought to the attention of many recently following the successful campaign from footballer Marcus Rashford to extend school meal provision to children during the school holidays.

Philip explains: "Schools Out Comedy Club gave me an outlet during the first lockdown to use my love of performing comedy to occupy bored kids up and down the country. It also gave parents a break from their own kids and the pressures of homeschooling. Comedians, actors and others in the arts have suffered massively since March, with very little work and very few outlets for keeping our creative minds sane. Producing this joke book was a way of giving me some purpose, whilst also raising some much needed funds for a charity that has also suffered as a result of COVID-19. Due to the nature of the project, I was especially eager to find a charity that supports children, and knowing that the sale of just one book could provide about 6 meals for children who might otherwise go without is truly amazing."

The book has been illustrated by fellow stand-up comedian Joe Bor. It is being self-published and follows on from Philip's hugely successful crowdfunder, which was part of the Edinburgh Fringe #FringeMakers platform. It will be released on Friday 27th November and will be available in paperback direct from Philip (https://philipsimon.co.uk/shop) and as an ebook from Amazon (https://bit.ly/soccbook). The School's Out Comedy Club joke book features approximately 175 jokes, all submitted by fans of the show, along with a selection from Philip himself.

A few highlights from the book include:

What type of key opens a banana?
A monkey.
(Jack, 8, St Albans)

What do lawyers wear to court?
Lawsuits.
(Denali, 9, Kaiserslautern, Germany)

I asked my pet lion how he liked his meat.
He said “ROAR!!!”
(Philip, 41, Hertfordshire)

ABOUT SCHOOL’S OUT COMEDY CLUB

Thinking as a stand up comedian and a dad struggling with homeschooling, Philip had an idea for putting out a series of videos of jokes to entertain children, giving them a 5-10 minute break in the monotony of the day and an escape from all things Coronavirus!

The videos are interactive, so the children can submit their own jokes that he then tells. This was a good writing exercise for them plus they would get to see their name emblazoned on the screen as their joke is told to the nation. He's even had some kids send videos of themselves performing their jokes, which has been a really fantastic addition to the episodes.

Other than the recorded shows Philip has been able to host live stream versions of the show for cubs, brownies, guides, scouts and other youth groups, but here in the UK and abroad…all from the socially distanced safety of his front room.

Episodes of the show are available to view on the School’s Out Comedy Club dedicated YouTube Channel (bit.ly/SchoolsOutComedy).

ABOUT PHILIP SIMON

Philip Simon is an award winning stand up comedian from Borehamwood where he runs the local Borehamwood Comedy Club at 96 Shenley Road. He is also the co-host of a new comedy video/podcast called “Jew Talkin’ To Me?”, featuring Jewish guests talking about their lives. He has been a regular fixture on the UK and international standup circuit for 9 years. As well as being part of the production rehearsal teams for Mock the Week and Taskmaster, he is a regular contributor of material to shows including Mock the Week, Newsjack and Newsrevue.

In 2020 he came 2nd in the UK Pun Championship as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival, and is a former winner of Jewish Comedian of the Year, Lastminute Comedy Comedian of the Year and Kill for a Seat Comedian of the Year.

'Philip Simon is never less than hilarious' (The Stage)
'With Philip Simon as compere comedy is guaranteed.' (The Jewish Chronicle)
'Solid, strong stand-up. A Comedy Store act...Definitely one to be reckoned with.' (Hils Jago, Amused Moose)

PRESS CONTACT: PHILIP SIMON
Website: www.philipsimon.co.uk
All Social Media: @PhilipsComedy

For more information visit http://www.philipsimon.co.uk/shop