CLASS OF 2026

Anvil Springstien

ANVIL SPRINGSTIEN

Anvil Springstien arrived at stand-up by a route that makes most career changes look a bit half-hearted. Liverpool-born, he left school without qualifications, spent seven years at sea, travelled around Europe, went back into education, picked up degrees in sociology and politics, and worked as everything from a barman to a teacher and journalist.

Then came comedy.

He started performing at Newcastle's Crack Club in 1986, right at the beginning of the city's alternative comedy scene. The name dates from an earlier act in which he lay beneath a concrete slab while it was smashed with a sledgehammer. Apparently just telling jokes felt too straightforward.

From there came Edinburgh shows, international gigs, festival appearances, television warm-ups, presenting work and a satirical newspaper column. More importantly, he became one of the people who helped establish the idea that alternative comedy could grow properly in the North East rather than merely pass through it.

There are comedians who become famous, and comedians who help make a scene possible. Anvil did the second one for decades, while also being the sort of act younger comics remembered, learned from and talked about afterwards.

That'll get you in the Hall.