John Shuttleworth: Raise the ‘Oof – Live Review – Scarborough Spa
By Victoria Holdsworth, April 2025
A beautiful spring evening in Scarborough, with a crackle of excitement in the air, as we were here to see the eccentrically hilarious John Shuttleworth, and to help him celebrate 40 years in the entertainment business, in a show aptly titled Raise the ‘Oof!’.
Upon arrival at The Spa, there were quite a few parking spaces cordoned off, looking all fancy, but we were soon to learn that, at no expense spared, they were all for John! He must have gone up in the world!
Tonight was going to be a quirky evening of songs about pigeons in flight, or some kind of mundane crisis wrapped in a Yamaha keyboard, and no detail was left unturned – proving to be sheer brilliance.
Shuttleworth, played with deadpan genius by Graham Fellows, shuffles on stage like your slightly awkward uncle at a family gathering, but one who’s secretly a comic mastermind. His songs are hilariously mundane—odes to Austin Ambassadors, and the marital perils of having two margarines on the go, but somehow, they’re also weirdly moving. There’s a kind of poetry in how seriously he takes the everyday.
In the first half of the show, we are given the promise of no-expense-spared pyrotechnics, which his long-standing manager, Ken Worthington, has supplied his act with this evening. Not one, but two party poppers – but only to be used at appropriate times, of course!
Other characters in John’s life also make an appearance, much to the delight of everyone in the audience, including a call with his wife Mary, who was getting drunk on Prosecco with her best friend Joan Chitty – who John has to deflect amorous advances from on quite a few occasions – which had the audience crying with laughter. Perfectly executed comedic timing by Fellows, leaving everyone roaring with laughter in their seats.
“Severe words for the folk at Mars”
The charm is in the detail. He’ll spend five minutes discussing a flapjack he once had in Cleethorpes, and you’ll find yourself barely able to breathe from laughing so hard. But there’s also a sense of nostalgia and warmth that creeps in, making Graham Fellows a writer of modern-day observational comedy who stands out from the rest of his peers.
The second half is a continuation of the first, but behind the polyester slacks, worn leather coat and earnest jingles, there’s a real affection for a certain kind of Britishness that’s quietly disappearing – but John Shuttleworth is not going to let it vanish without a fight.
John opens up more about his family life in the second half. After 40 years of hard slog and mischievous mishaps – mainly down to Ken – here we are, on his anniversary, being treated to a few tracks from his new album, The Pumice Stone and Other Rock Songs, including ‘The Ballad of Dangly Man’ (which is based on a true story, no less), and the mirthful ‘Shall We Share the Shortbread, Shirley?’ – proving that there is still life within the old timer yet, as Mr Shuttleworth whipped the audience into a fist-pumping frenzy for songs about paintbrush care, as he belted out ‘Smells Like White Spirit’, and his advice to Kurt Cobain: “You should have read the label, lad.”
John also shows his passionate side for everyday first-world problems, and has severe words for the folk at Mars who got rid of the cardboard strip from Bounty bars!
Ending on some party poppers and a medley of some of his most famous songs, the evening is over as quickly as it began – but I could have easily sat and watched for another couple of hours. I have not cried so much with laughter in a long time, and it’s honestly hard to explain John Shuttleworth, he’s not for everyone. But if you get it, you really get it. And if you don’t… well, you probably haven’t experienced the full majesty of a torch song to mingling with mourners.
More info: shuttleworths.co.uk
images: Tony Briggs
Victoria is a former English teacher and lifelong musician who has successfully combined her two great passions: words and music. Over the past 20 years, she has written for a variety of publications, giving her the opportunity to witness outstanding talent and meet some truly inspiring individuals.With a deep love for rock, indie, metal, and all things weird and wonderful in between, Victoria also co-runs an independent record label with her friend Tetley.
