Al Porter announces major comeback gig at Vicar Street

Kat O'Connor

Comedian Al Porter has announced his comeback show at Dublin’s Vicar Street.

He is set to go on tour across Ireland with a major headline show in the capital in October.

Porter said the show will be his most personal to date, but promised it will still be hilarious.

Writing on Instagram, the comedian confirmed he will “catch up” with his fans during the tour.

“It’s my most personal show ever, from the heart, an upbeat and upfront look at my journey to here. But it’s funny! Like live therapy with jokes. And I’ve done five years of therapy, so I’ve no mortgage but I do have insight!”

“I went from on the telly to on the dole, and now I’m a sober Sally, I’ve turned thirty living in my Mam’s, and I have a posh boyfriend but I’m still broke.”

“I promise a big catch-up with big laughs and a really fun night out.”

He continued, “I hit rock bottom, learned a lot, and made big changes. I’m excited to show you!”

Porter thanked the venues for giving him a second chance after he stepped out of the spotlight in 2017.

The comedian said he cannot wait to return and “do what I love most and make people laugh”.

He also said he cannot wait to introduce the “new me” to his audience.

Last year, Porter issued a public statement confirming he was ready to return to public life.

Multiple allegations were made against Porter in November 2017. The comedian said the claims “snowballed into newspaper articles, and eventually more”.

Porter decided to walk away from all of his work commitments until 2022.

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A post shared by Al Porter (@alporternow)

He stated, “Through a newspaper article, I learned there was a complaint of sexual assault against me made to the Gardai. I immediately and repeatedly contacted the Gardai, but it was a year before I was told what the accusation actually was, which I denied.

“It was another year before the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charge against me. I wouldn’t wish those two years on anyone,” Porter shared.

Porter spent years working on personal issues and attending therapy. He said what happened in 2017 was a major wakeup call for him.

“I’m now 29, I’ve spent the entire second half of my adult life growing, learning and making amends where I could. But at the end of the day, nothing I can write can prove that. From here on, I’ll let my actions speak for me, in my work and in my life.”