Free Speech and Comedy: Jack Dee in conversation with Toby Young

Join us for an exclusive in-person event in South London, or online if you prefer.

With audience Q&A

On 12th October Toby Young will be joined in conversation by stand-up comedian, actor, writer and presenter Jack Dee.

Click here to watch Jack Dee talking about the event.

Firmly established as one of Britain’s biggest and best-loved comedy stars, Jack Dee has captured the imagination of audiences and critics alike with his dry humour and deadpan delivery for the past three decades. Jack has co-written and starred in two of his own sitcoms; four series of the marvellously funny Lead Balloon for BBC Two and two series of the hit ITV show Bad Move.

In 2004, he hosted BAFTA-nominated Jack Dee Live at the Apollo. In 2009, Jack replaced Humphrey Lyttelton as the chairman of the widely adored BBC Radio 4 “antidote to panel games,” I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue. Jack is also the author of a bestselling autobiography, Thanks for Nothing, and the agony uncle book What Is Your Problem? which was published in 2021.

Recent credits include the host of Have I Got News for You (BBC One), Jack Dee’s HelpDesk (BBC Two), The Apprentice: You’re Fired (BBC Two) and starring as Geoff in three series of the hit BBC series JOSH (BBC Three). Jack is currently on tour with his new stand-up comedy show Off The Telly.

Jack has been a consistent defender of free speech in comedy and joined the Free Speech Union when it launched. In response to the recent fuss over a joke by Jimmy Carr he said:

“Do we want the state to intervene on what can or can not be said? I don’t think we want that, I think we’re sophisticated enough as an audience to discern what we want without calling the cops.”

When the FSU was cancelled by PayPal, Jack publicly declared that he was closing his PayPal account in solidarity.