Features/Comedy: 26 Oct 2017
Jack Maguire

A Tribute to Comedian Sean Hughes in the Latest Issue of Hot Press

The “genuine trailblazer of Irish comedy” passed away on October 16th following a heart attack and liver cirrhosis

In the latest issue, Olaf Tyaransen follows Hughes’ career, from the 80s London comedy scene, to more recent TV appearances.

The feature piece includes an interview with Hughes’ friend, fellow Dublin comedian Michael Redmond. He details their first gigs in London, which were “five minutes, unpaid, and if it went well you’d get a booking”.

The piece recalls how the “impishly faced, floppily fringed Dubliner” launched to fame after becoming the youngest ever winner of the highly coveted Perrier award.

Hughes' show A One Night Stand with Sean Hughes debuted at the 1990 Edinburgh fringe festival show and was hugely innovative. It was one of the first comedians to weave “an actual narrative into his routine”.

After the Perrier win, Hughes reached new heights with Sean’s Show, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The Last Detective, and finally Coronation Street.

Whilst appearing regularly on TV, he found time to star in a West End show, publish novels and poetry books.

The feature piece touches upon some Hughes personal life too, including his terror of intimacy and alcoholism.

For more about Sean Hughes’ life and legacy, read the full feature piece in the new edition of Hot Press.

RIP Sean Hughes, 1965- 2017

The new Hot Press starring The Waterboys is available in stores now (October 26)– or you can order it now direct from hotpress.com. or via download in the iOS app