Daliso Chaponda Stands Up to Lockdown

Daliso Chaponda is best known for reaching the final of Britain’s Got Talent, having been fast tracked by Amanda Holden with the golden buzzer. A sweet, self-effacing performer, he describes himself as a D list celebrity only too pleased on the rare occasions he is recognised. It’s one of the things he missed most when the country went into lockdown, and he found himself living alone, twiddling his thumbs when he’d rather be standing up and doing comedy.

Apocalypse Not Now focused on the challenges faced by us all during Covid – not so much the virus itself but rather the consequences of protecting ourselves from it. The tour itself, which should have taken six months, has taken three times as long as it staggered on through various lockdowns. This did at least give Chaponda the benefit of hindsight, and much of what he had to say was thought provoking and insightful. While the usual stand up targets were present and correct, he was at his best when confronting the issue of race in a way that was fresh and unusually provocative. Quick to demolish received opinion, he was candid about the role Black Lives Matters played in advancing his career, and the distinction between racist ignorance and racist hate.

The various strands he otherwise introduced didn’t always weave together neatly, but he had so much of interest to say, that we can surely forgive the occasional misfire. Granted, his jokes evoked more chuckles than belly laughs, but he’s a very personable fellow, who draws his audience in with probing questions that seem to come from a genuine interest in other people. His quick and intelligent repartee with the audience brought out the best in him, showcasing a comedian at ease with himself, confident enough to extemporise on material the lively crowd offered up.