4th September, 2025
Stockport comedian George Lewis, often referred to as ‘the funniest dad on Instagram’, has carved out a niche on social media out of comedy content about being a dad. He has also written a book on the topic, a book that I found particularly useful in the early days of my own journey into fatherhood. Is it possible to translate short form comedy clips on social media into a full live show? The jury is still out on that one…
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a comedy show that is as geared towards one topic and one audience as this one is. Essentially, if you’re not a current parent or an expecting parent, this show is not for you. I have a one-year-old daughter, and so much of the material about Lewis’ older children (he has three) goes over my head. In many ways, it’s surprising that all of these parents were able to come out on the same night. The childminders of Sheffield must have been having a field day.
Following a pleasingly unhinged and downbeat set from Bristol comic Jeremy Flynn, Lewis takes to the stage to rapturous applause. This is his third time performing in Sheffield in recent years, and as a former Sheffield Hallam University alumni, the city serves as his second home. He begins with some gentle humour about regretting having three kids before launching into an ongoing bit about how his wife’s ex-boyfriend (Dean) is much taller than him. While this conceit does become a little repetitive, it also provides many of the evening’s best moments (and offers some respite from the constant barrage of material about parenting).
Much of Lewis’ appeal comes from recognition rather than natural ability. He is occasionally funny, but his ability to condense fatherhood down to a few relatable one-liners and anecdotes is where his true talent lies. It’s easy to see why he has become such a popular social media presence. His genuine passion and enthusiasm for parenthood shines through, despite his protestations to the contrary, and his likeable demeanour and sunny disposition ensure that he always a compelling onstage presence even if his material is a little too benign for my taste.
Lewis has positioned himself as an authority on parenting, and this works to great effect with his book on the topic. As a live performer, however, he is relatable, sympahetic, but ultimately unchallenging. I’d be interested to see him move away from parenthood entirely or to truly tackle some of the darker moments that come with having a child.