Bill Bailey says Vaudevillian tour will feature old-style illusions

Comedian and musician Bill Bailey has said his forthcoming Vaudevillian tour will draw on the musical comedy traditions of the original vaudeville era. The show, which begins next week, will combine comedy and music and include old-style theatrical illusions that he has not used on stage before.

In a studio interview, Bailey said vaudeville was built around musical comedy, with singers, light opera and comedians sharing a stage where music was always present. He wanted the new show to lean into that lineage and trace modern comedy back to its vaudeville roots. He confirmed there would be a little dancing but would not be drawn on possible guest stars.

Bailey also reflected on his career. He learned piano as a child, taught himself guitar and played in bands at school before moving into comedy after listening to comedy records. He said the move felt like a natural progression. The interview heard how his stage name came from a junior school geography teacher who saw his surname Bailey and began singing 'Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey', a hit from the vaudeville era. Bailey, whose real name is Mark Bailey, said he would sing the song on tour and discuss its origins in the show.

He also spoke about his MBE, which was conferred by Princess Anne. He gave his view on the King's speech to Congress, saying the King delivered it well and could turn his hand to stand-up if needed. He suggested the US President probably laughed politely at the jokes.

Bailey said he still gets nerves before stepping on stage. He added that the new tour would include fresh ideas and illusions, and he was excited about exploring them. A clip played during the interview showed him asking an audience about the loss of species and the move to a greener future, and he recalled once asking about fusion energy and finding that the person who answered was the director of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. He used a pipe as a prop but does not smoke it.