He’s a panel show regular and stand-up comedian who has graced our television screens for more than a decade.
So it might surprise you to read that Stephen K. Amos doesn’t like seeing himself on the box, even when it involves a once-in-a-lifetime meeting in the Vatican.
“I have to admit I’ve only just recorded the series as I couldn’t bring myself to watch it,” said Amos regarding his meeting with the Pope in BBC2 show Pilgrimage: The Road to Rome.
“I’ve also resisted doing something too close to reality TV because you’re at the mercy of editors. So don’t expect to see me on I’m A Celebrity with kangaroo balls in my face anytime soon.”
Amos will further lift the lid on his audience with Pope Francis this Friday, January 17, when he brings his Everyman show to Farnham Maltings.
His visit is part of ongoing mission to bring about world peace, with Amos seeing himself as the Everyman who can bring people together through the medium of comedy.
“I’m like every man as I’ve got the same issues as most people, but we’re not going to be dealing with Brexit, politics or religion,” said Amos, who will also perform at Camberley Theatre on February 9.
“I want people to have a break from that and the whole ethos of the show is about feeling good.
“One thing I’m not doing is talking about all the negatives in the world because you don’t want to be reminded about it when you get into a comedy show. It’s definitely not deep.”
Stephen claims to being more at home at smaller venues like the Maltings and The Phoenix, where he performed last month, as it allows him to be more “playful” and “intimate” with the audience. Guests can expect “achingly funny anecdotes and hilarious takes on the everyday” and definitely no mention of the B-word.
One subject which does feature in Everyman is his meeting with the Pope, which was kept secret until the final day of his aforementioned pilgrimage.
“I had just come back from a tour of Australia and New Zealand when I got this phone call about a programme about discovering yourself and doing a pilgrimage,” said the comedian.
“I don’t walk for coffee, I don’t get the tube and if I do it’s down to a badly parked Uber, but I thought it would be a good idea to have space to think while also doing something quite physical.
“It was only on the last day they said ‘by the way, we’ve got this meeting’ and it hit me like a ton of bricks.
He added: “My initial response was no but I thought about how many other people would give their right arm for this opportunity – I just couldn’t pass it up.”
Amos will perform from 8pm this Friday, January 17, with tickets priced £18 from 01252 745444 or www.farnhammaltings.com
The comedian will return to West Surrey three weeks later as he’s also performing at Camberley Theatre on Sunday, February 9, tickets £19 from 01276 707600 or www.camberleytheatre.co.uk