Paul McCaffrey: What a Time to Be Alive

Paul McCaffrey is bringing his new show, What a Time to Be Alive, to Brighton this spring. If you follow UK comedy, you’ll likely recognize him from appearances on shows like Live At The Apollo and Russell Howard’s Good News, or perhaps from his co-hosting duties on the popular podcasts ‘What’s Upset You Now?’ and ‘Gladrags’. McCaffrey is an award-winning headliner who has also previously been selected to tour with big names like Sean Lock and Kevin Bridges. This new hour of comedy is described as warm and charming, focusing on a relatable question: whether modern life, with all its current annoyances, was actually better in the past. The show is part of a wider tour, which includes a run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and a stop at the Leicester Square Theatre in London, confirming its place as a major touring piece.

For those planning to catch him locally, the event is happening on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The venue is the Ironworks Studios (30 Cheapside, BN1 4GD), which some of you might know better as The Forge Comedy Club. The schedule for the evening is straightforward: doors open at 18:30, and the show itself starts promptly at 19:30, wrapping up around 21:30. While the comedy set runs for about an hour, the total event time is roughly two hours. Seating is unreserved and assigned when you arrive, so planning to get there when doors open might be useful if you have a preference.

Tickets for the Brighton date are priced at £17.72, and it’s worth noting that sources indicate there are few tickets left for this date, which is being organized by Funny That Comedy. Regarding attendance, there is a strict age restriction of 14+, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, which aligns with the likelihood of the show containing strong language and adult content. McCaffrey is known for his confident stage presence, having been praised by critics as having the “relaxed, assured confidence of an arena artist” (Chortle), suggesting a polished and reliable night of stand-up.