Several months ago comedian Ivan Steward conceived the spiffing wheeze of converting himself into a comedy referee, 'I don't know where the idea came from', Steward reveals 'But I went right out and brought the full gear.' This consists of shorts, shirts, whistle and red and yellow cards. 'I usually take them when I'm doing a gig as compere' he explains, 'But sometimes I go in disguise'. By this Steward means he goes in normal clothes. The audience is often yellow carded for for laughing in the wrong places, not laughing in the right places or (a good one this) laughing in a sarcastic manner. Comics are cautioned after they've completed their sets for such crimes as 'dodgy material'. Sendings off are rare. ' I did try in the past,' Steward says, 'But for some reason the comics didn't take it seriously'

Stewards career path before stand-up encompassed working as a fireman on the Flying Scotsman, before British Rail brought in diesel trains, and studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama where he auditioned with a tragic Shakespearean speech that provoked such mirth they offered him a place. (would I make this up?) Steward subsequently played the part of the prison goalkeeper in the film of 'Porridge'. He used to referee for his local church team but he wouldn't book the players (instead he forgave them).

With a tremendous amount of experience on the London circuit, and the ability to act as headline act or compere at any level, Ivan Steward is an act that is sure to liven up any comedy night, with his loud and surreal act. As well as appearing regularly at The laughing Horse Comedy Club, at the Black Horse in Richmond and being resident MC at the now closed The Laughing Horse Comedy Club at the Duke of York, Ivan is a regular and poplar act on the London and UK comedy circuit.

Ivan also co-runs, with Brian Damage, 'Pear Shaped in Fitzrovia' and his own 'Ivan's Comedy Gaff' in London. See the website's or listings magazines for details.

You can contact him by email at acts@laughinghorse.co.uk for booking information, or for information on the clubs he runs and performs at.

You can also visit his other web site here and the web site for his Comedy Gaff here