Bobby Thompson

Penshaw’s Bobby Thompson, the “Little Waster”, made the language and experiences of North East pit communities central to his comedy. His broad Pitmatic accent was part of an act built around debt, domestic life and the difficulties of getting by.

Fellow comedian Gavin Webster has praised the inventiveness of his concepts and jokes, seeing a performer ahead of his time. His reputation was especially strong in the North East, where audiences recognised both the voice and the world behind the humour.