Following the huge success of his recent book (Normal Schmormal) and second BBC Radio 4 series (Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children), comedian Ashley Blaker embarks on his Normal Schmormal stand-up, UK tour this Spring with a stop on Thursday 27 in Brighton, Komedia.
Ashley’s aim is simple: to completely change how people talk about parenting children with special needs.
He has six children, three of whom have a Special Education Needs (SEN) diagnosis. Between the children there is autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, speech and language disorders, heart defects, hearing loss, mobility issues, sensory needs and gastroenterological problems. As Ashley says, ‘You know you’ve got a lot going on when Great Ormond Street Hospital give you your own parking space.’ It’s certainly not what anyone would call a ‘normal’ household, but Ashley wouldn’t want it any other way.
Ashley’s story is one which parents, carers and teachers of children with SEN will particularly relate to, but his heartwarming tour, like the book and radio series, will appeal to any parent who believes love and acceptance are the most important building blocks of a happy family.
Ashley Blaker said: ‘Being a parent is tough and raising kids with special needs is even tougher. That’s why I am delighted to share our story with people and hopefully provide some much-needed light relief. Thankfully our kids provide so much comic material this has all taken much less time to write than you might imagine.’
Ashley Blaker is a comedian, writer and father. He has performed two Off-Broadway shows, toured five continents and had several programmes on BBC Radio 4 including his family series Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, which has been the number one stand-up show on BBC Sounds.
In 2023, HarperCollins published his debut book ‘Normal Schmormal: My occasionally helpful guide to parenting kids with special needs’. It is a part-comic memoir and part how-to guide and highlights the challenges and rewards of raising a family which doesn’t fit into society’s definition of ‘normal’. It was serialised in the Sunday Times and quickly became a number one bestseller on Amazon. It also led to Ashley working with several major charities including Mencap, Sense and Adoption UK.
As a writer and producer, Ashley has worked with a who’s who of British comedy and was responsible for unleashing Little Britain on an unsuspecting nation.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
‘Absolutely hilarious and yet so poignant. This book is going to both entertain and bring comfort to so many people, giving them hope for the future.’ Matt Lucas
‘Hilarious, fascinating, and moving. A very special book about a very special family. I laughed and learned so much.’ Elis James
‘There’s so much love and good energy in this book. It had me smiling from the very first words.’ Adam Hills
‘Normal Schmormal is a laugh-out-loud, touching memoir of advice, where embracing the weird becomes something wonderful. Every parent should have a copy.’ Emma Kennedy
‘This is a must read. Ashley Blaker has a special brand of comic magic. His gift is in making the toughest life-challenges seem relatable and even joyous.’ Rob Rinder
‘A very funny and honest account of Ashley’s extraordinary ordinary life. There is treasure here for all parents, non-parents and children of parents, and that is surely most people.’ Alex Horne
‘Funny and warm hearted, this book is a godsend for neurodivergent parents like me.’ Josie Long
‘Inspirational, moving and massively funny. A beautiful schmeautiful book.’ David Schneider
