One of the most influential and provocative voices in global comedy is heading back to the UK. Acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer Jim Jefferies has announced the long-awaited UK leg of his brand-new stand-up tour, Son of a Carpenter, coming in November 2025. With tickets already flying, Jefferies is set to deliver a show that’s as sharp, belief-challenging, and personal as anything he’s done before.

“It’s completely new material,” Jefferies says, speaking with his usual blend of confidence and self-deprecation. “I had already written about an hour of the new show when my last Netflix special came out. I’d been testing bits around the leftover material, but there’s nothing to it but to do it. It takes about four or five gigs to get into the rhythm. After a couple of weeks touring through Europe, I really liked it — and after three, I loved it. Right now, I’m kind of in love with this set. It’s one of my favourite shows I’ve ever done in my whole career.”

The title, Son of a Carpenter, might suggest religious undertones, but Jefferies laughs that off. “When I first performed it in Tampa, someone showed up thinking it was a one-man play about Jesus. It’s as simple as my dad being a carpenter — I’m the son of a carpenter. That’s it. Jesus isn’t the only bloke who deserves that title.”

The inspiration for the show came while Jefferies was writing his autobiography. “That’s basically therapy, isn’t it?” he says. “You go through your life and end up remembering things you’d rather forget — and things you look back on and go, ‘Actually, that’s pretty funny.’ Some of those moments turned into bits for the show.”

For all his confidence on stage, starting a new show from scratch still brings nerves. “The hardest bit is wondering, what if it isn’t good? That fear never goes away. It’s the same for any artist. But once a new routine starts to cook, it’s pure excitement. Hopefully, I can tour this one for a couple of years because I’m mad for it.”

Returning to the UK is always a homecoming of sorts for Jefferies, whose early years on the British circuit shaped his career. “I think it’s that Commonwealth connection,” he reflects. “Australians and the British take the piss out of each other, but we’ve always had each other’s backs. There’s a shared sense of humour and history. I’ve always said I’m an Australian-American who identifies as British. I’m a pale bloke built to sit in a pub drinking pints — never meant to be out in the sun, and I couldn’t handle a gun to save my life. I’m good in England.”

He fondly remembers the energy of UK crowds. “The British audiences were proper fans. The heckling was the best in the world. Americans try to correct you, Australians try to trip you up, but the British try to out-joke you. Even if the laugh’s at my expense, if someone nails it, it’s an extra laugh — saves me a bit of time.”

Though now based in the US, Jefferies keeps close ties to the UK — not least because his wife is English. “We’ll all be coming over for Thanksgiving—my boys, my ex, my wife—the whole lot of us. Whenever I’ve got a day off in Europe, I still fly back to London. It just feels more like home. My wife would move back in a heartbeat. Her mum’s in Brighton, so when I play the Brighton Centre, it’s a real family affair. I feel very loved there.”

Asked what he misses most about Britain, Jefferies doesn’t hesitate: “Trains. I love trains. After flying everywhere in America, I realised how good the British rail network actually is. I miss the Underground, I miss not having to wear sunscreen, and I even miss the weather. I miss the Premier League — the chanting, the atmosphere. Everything’s so universal now, but there’s still something special about the UK.”

Despite his success in America—with multiple Netflix specials, hit game shows, and acting roles—Jefferies insists his approach to comedy hasn’t changed. “Becoming a dad and getting older has changed what I talk about, but not how I write. I still think of a premise, tell it to a friend, then keep talking on stage until it turns into something. Many comedians think once they’ve written a joke, that’s it — but you never stop writing a joke. There’s always another tag to add.”

And while he’s expanded into hosting game shows like The 1% Club in Australia and The Snake in the US, stand-up remains home base. “It’s still about eighty percent of my occupation — what I think about most. The other stuff is fun, though. No one hates a game show host. When you tell someone they’ve just won $100,000, you’re beloved.”

He’s also been sharing stages with fellow comics, including a recent tour of Canada with Jimmy Carr. “We did arenas all around — brilliant experience. I’ve got a wardrobe full of hockey jerseys with ‘Jefferies’ on the back. Jimmy’s a great guy, and we had a blast doing Q&As together at the end of each show. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

When it comes to his comedy heroes, Jefferies is as much a fan as anyone. “I’ve got Glenn Wool and Andrew Maxwell opening for me—I’m a huge fan of both. And I still love Frankie Boyle. Michael McIntyre cracks me up too. I showed my son his stuff to explain stand-up. My boy started watching me a bit earlier than I’d like—he saw me at a Dodgers charity gig doing stories about wanking on the couch. “Tough life that kid’s got.”

Fatherhood, inevitably, has become part of the act. “I’ve morphed into the dad I used to talk about. You don’t realise until you’re a parent how much you want your kids to be impressed by you. Now I’m on stage thinking, ‘Will my son think I’m a dhead for this joke?’* Fatherhood’s changed how I write because I’m more conscious of how they see me — and honestly, they probably still think I’m a w*er.”

When he’s not on stage, Jefferies is a lifelong Oasis devotee. “I flew my son to Toronto to see them just before the European tour,” he grins. “Then I saw them twice at Wembley and again in the pouring rain in Toronto. Every gig was a banger. Twenty years ago, those concerts were full of testosterone and chaos. Now it’s a bunch of old blokes jumping around full of love. Six weeks later, my son wanted a guitar — that’s what music’s meant to do. Inspire you.”

He laughs, adding, “If you want to be a stand-up, don’t watch good comedians—they’ll make you feel worse. Watch bad ones; they’ll give you confidence. And as much as I love Oasis, their guitar playing isn’t that complicated. Give me a tambourine and a bit of swagger, and I’ll give it a go.”

For Jefferies, that mix of grit, humour, and heart is what’s always tied him to Britain. “When I lived in England, everything about music was Oasis and Happy Mondays; outside it was dreary and wet. But that’s what I love about Britain—it lifts itself up with music and pride. You can always see a brighter day ahead, as some might say.”

SON OF A CARPENTER UK TOUR DATES
1 Nov Manchester, O2 Apollo
2 Nov Manchester, O2 Apollo
3 Nov Sheffield, City Hall
4 Nov Liverpool, Empire Theatre
6 Nov Newcastle, O2 City Hall
7 Nov Glasgow, SEC Armadillo
8 Nov Edinburgh, Playhouse
15 Nov Leeds, First Direct Arena

Tickets are on sale now via https://myticket.co.uk/artists/jim-jefferies