Comedian Phil Jerrod Dies
Management company Off The Kerb has issued the following statement.
It is with deep sadness we have to announce the death of Phil Jerrod. Phil peacefully passed away at home after a battle with cancer, with his devoted wife Beck by his side.
Phil’s critically acclaimed stand-up and comedy writing meant he was incredibly respected by his peers, supporting and writing with many of his comedy heroes.
Phil was a dear friend to us, an incredibly kind and talented man, who was taken far too soon. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
The last time I saw Phil Jerrod perform he was supporting Romesh Ranganathan at the Glasgow Comedy Festival in 2016. Ranganathan played tribute to Jerrod on Instagram: "Phil Jerrod was one of my very best friends and I loved him dearly. He was a brilliant comic, but more importantly one of the kindest and loveliest men you could ever meet. You would always feel better for having spent time with him. I will miss him so much."
Fello Brighton comedian Angela Barnes got married on Saturday and a number of comedians at the wedding were also friends of Jerrod. Barnes posted on Twitter: "On Saturday we had to say goodbye to one of my best friends, the incomparable Phil Jerrod. One of the most loving, funniest and most creative people I’ve known. All my thoughts are with Beck, your beloved wife. I love you Phil, life won’t be the same again. Utterly heartbroken"
Stephen Grant wrote a touching piece on Facebook: "The whole UK comedy community is mourning the loss of a brilliant voice, mind, and human being today - the wonderful Phil Jerrod.
One thing that stood out is how strongly knitted the Brighton comedy community is. It was in full effect on Saturday as we turned up for
Angela Barnes wedding, and I was impressed and hugely heartened to see how the majority of her comedy mates were the ones who were there when she started (the hardest time in comedy) and they far outnumbered the royalty of UK comedy talent (of which she is now an established part).
Naturally, it was not at all lost on us - comedians - that there was a unique poignancy to this; Phil dying on the day of a wedding, but something beautiful happened; for reasons of joy, and celebration, (and basically a free party!), a whole load of people, joined by community and geography, who are never normally all in the same place, suddenly were. That collective had some of Phil's closest friends;
Phil Lucas his podcasting buddy, Julie his partner, Romesh for whom he supported on tour, and many others who knew him well, turning up alongside him at the little local gigs so that we could sharpen ourselves for the big national ones. And of course Matt and Angela, who were already on an understandable emotional rollercoaster. So we got to say goodbye together, when it was the most raw; many people only learning during the wedding that he had gone. As a result, we had the people we'd talk to about him immediately around us, and far from it being appalling timing (something all comedians fear), it was a heartwarming demonstration how a community pulls together whatever the circumstances.
His partner Beck had a place at the wedding and it was around that space that the picture you can see - and many more with many other people - was taken by
Phil. I hope all this helps explain why we're smiling.
Finally, today, I searched for his name in the Komedia diaries. We kept putting in dates on pencil so he could do them if well enough. He managed quite a few, impressively; including his first show back after chemo, and the day before a hospital op. He was even in for a full weekend less than a month before lockdown. Lots of pencils that never happened, but the number we put in, I hope, is a sign of how brilliant he was, and how much we loved having him backstage.
Comedy loved Phil and Phil loved comedy.
Phil Jerrod Picture: Andy Hollingworth
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