Latest TV: Sneak Peeks
Normal is extraordinary
Two years ago last month Henry Normal did a remarkable thing. He left Baby Cow, the television company he and Steve Coogan had co-founded 17 years previously ‘to pursue creative endeavours in other fields’. now, bear in mind that Baby Cow is the power behind such luminaries as The Trip, Uncle, Gavin and Stacey and The Mighty Boosh. And that Normal himself had co-written such markers in the comedy landscape as The Mrs Merton Show and The Royle Family. So this is a man with accomplishments. But he is also a patron of local Brighton charity Amaze, who offer support to families of children and young people with SEN and disabilities. And was a poet and performer himself, way before telly writing and making the big decisions for shows came into the mix. There were other things calling to him.
A couple of months later Normal published a new book of poetry, composed of new and selected poems, entitled Staring Directly At The Eclipse all about his family, his wife and their son Johnny, who has autism. And then he took it on tour.
It tickles your soul in a most endearing way
The poetry collection was funny, poignant, deeply personal and confuses as to whether you should laugh or cry – or maybe both. It tickles your soul in a most endearing way. BBC Radio 4 collaborated on two one-off live recordings of Henry performing his poems. Normal and his wife Angela Pell – a screenwriter herself – went on to co-write their family’s story so far as A Normal Family: Everyday adventures with our autistic son (recently published by Two Roads). Extraordinary Normals. And we’ve got the scoop.
As Henry performed around the country on tour, taking his first new poems published in years out and about, he allowed this very personal film to be made following him. Talking lovingly about his family, chronicling his latest adventure, it’s an incredible journey you’ve been invited to hitch a ride along on. Thanks, Henry – the service station snacks are on us.
Henry Normal Staring Directly At The Eclipse can be seen on LatestTV at 10pm, on Friday 1 June 2018.
City Books Present: Henry Normal – A Normal Family, The Ropetackle Centre, Wednesday 13 June, 7pm, £8
