Can you talk about being sexually abused by your father in a comedy show? It's a conundrum that Alan Davies tackles on his first tour in a decade. When he mentions his late father coming into his bedroom for a "special cuddle" an awkward silence descends. Davies jokes that this is precisely why he has never spoken about it before onstage. We all relax, he moves on and the laughs resume.
Think Ahead is not all about the abuse that has haunted the adenoidal stand-up. In fact his account of being a molested, also detailed in his 2020 book Just Ignore Him, barely takes up a quarter of his performance. But it casts a long shadow. One can clearly see Davies' demeanour change during the account. His breathing alters as if he is experiencing PTSD and reliving it.
