Skip to main contentEnter
😄Good news
Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

Ipswich's only independent news website

We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

Become a supporter

Tickets to see comedian Chris McCausland at the Ipswich Regent selling fast

News
Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

Ipswich's only independent news website

We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams

Stand-up star Chris McCausland is set to perform his brand-new show "Yonks!" at the Regent Theatre in Ipswich on 18 March 2025. The comedian, known for his sharp wit and TV appearances, promises another night of masterclass comedy.

Why it matters: McCausland's last tour was a sell-out, and his "rising star" status makes this a must-see event for comedy fans in Ipswich.

The big picture: Despite being called an "overnight success", McCausland has been honing his craft for over two decades, or as he puts it, "bloody yonks".

Chris McCausland Yonks! at the Ipswich Regent theatre
Chris McCausland will perform at the Ipswich Regent on 18 March 2025Ipswich Regent

Key details:

  • The show is part of McCausland's 2024 tour.

  • It promises to be another "masterclass in stand-up comedy".

  • Tickets are now on sale, with organisers encouraging early booking due to expected high demand.

McCausland's journey:

  • Started stand-up in 2003 at a new act night in Balham.

  • Won the Jongleurs J2O Last Laugh competition in his first year.

  • Took six shows to the Edinburgh Festival between 2005 and 2012.

  • Awarded the Creative Diversity Award for comedy by a Channel 4-led panel in 2011.

Television appearances:

  • A regular panellist on "Have I Got News for You" since 2019.

  • Hosted "Live at the Apollo" in January 2022.

  • Starred in Channel 4's reality show "Scared of the Dark" in April 2023.

  • Premiered his own chatshow, "The Chris McCausland Show", on ITV1 in June 2024.

Breaking barriers: He was the first blind contestant on "Strictly Come Dancing" in 2024 and hosted a four-part travelogue series, "The Wonders of the World I Can't See", in 2023.

The bottom line: With his unique perspective and growing popularity, McCausland's "Yonks!" has the potential to be a standout event in Ipswich's comedy calendar. Book your tickets before they go at https://ipswichtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/chris-mccausland-yonks/

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Mentioned in this article:
Ipswich Regent Theatre
Posted in:
Entertainment & Leisure
Comedy
Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

Become a supporter

Share this article

Support our journalism by sharing it with your friends, family, colleagues and followers

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

Ipswich's only free and independent news publication

Support our journalism

We can't do this without you! Unlike the Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich.co.uk has no banner advertising and no wealthy US corporate owners.

So, if you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for a better Ipswich, please consider contributing just £24 per year.

Every penny matters and allows us to keep producing good quality local journalism that respects your time, attention and privacy.

Become a supporter

Suffolk library dispute: Charity says council misrepresenting management costs

News
Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

Ipswich's only independent news website

We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams

Suffolk Libraries claims its back office costs are 21.4% of the total budget—not 33% as claimed by Suffolk County Council, whose CEO urges councillors not to "make a big decision based on flawed figures."

Why it matters: Suffolk County Council has proposed taking the library service back in-house after 12 and a half years of being run by Suffolk Libraries, a move the charity says is based on misrepresented figures. The decision has been met with widespread public criticism:

  • A survey by this publication revealed that 76% were not in favour of the decision, with just 14% in favour of it

  • A petition against the takeover is approaching 21,000 signatures

Bruce Leeke and Sylvia Knights of Suffolk Libraries
Bruce Leeke and Sylvia Knights of Suffolk Libraries

By the numbers: Suffolk Libraries has an annual charitable turnover of nearly £10m, of which:

  • £6.8m comes from the council contract

  • Nearly £3m is generated by Suffolk Libraries itself

  • The charity says this extra income "pays for nearly all back office and management costs"

What they're saying: "We stand by our figures which prove 21.4% of our total annual salary budget is spent on back office/management, including functions like the stock team, HR and IT," said Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries.

"The figure is only around 7% for senior management, a ratio that seems perfectly reasonable for a charity responsible for running 45 libraries, three mobile libraries and 13 prison libraries in addition to many other value adding contracts."

The other side: The county council has claimed that 33% of Suffolk Libraries staffing costs are spent on back office and management, a figure the charity disputes as being calculated incorrectly.

What's next: Suffolk Libraries met with the council this week to present a new proposal that would potentially allow the council to access additional funding to maintain the current service for the next two years.

For context: The charity says it has "successfully run" the county's 45 libraries for over 12 years and is "heralded within the industry as an example of best practice."

The bottom line: Sylvia Knights, Chair of Suffolk Libraries, has recorded a video appealing to Suffolk County Council decision makers to reconsider and "get back round the negotiating table."

The Suffolk Libraries Contract: A Message from Sylvia Knights, Chair of the Board
Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

Become a supporter

Share this article

Support our journalism by sharing it with your friends, family, colleagues and followers

Load next article