Just Like That! Bringing Tommy Cooper back to the stage

March 16, 2026

Few British comedians are as instantly recognisable as Tommy Cooper. From his trademark fez to his perfectly timed slapstick and deliberately disastrous magic tricks, Cooper remains an icon of live entertainment decades after his death. Now back on tour, Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show celebrates over 100 years of Tommy with an evening of magic, music and mirth. John Hewer spared us some time ahead of his performance this March to talk all things Cooper and comedy.

Discovering a lost act

For John Hewer, who stars as Cooper, the journey began with a biography. Reading Always Leave Them Laughing by John Fisher revealed that around 70 per cent of Cooper’s act was never recorded, material performed live and lost to time. With the 30th anniversary of Cooper’s death approaching, Hewer was inspired to create the tribute show he himself would want to see as a theatre-goer: a joyful, respectful celebration of Cooper’s work rather than a focus on his troubled personal life.

The weight of wearing the fez

Portraying such a beloved figure comes with responsibility, but Hewer believes audiences arrive wanting the show to succeed.

“People love Tommy Cooper,” he explains. “They want you to be good.”

That affection, combined with Britain’s enduring love of comedians, creates a unique atmosphere where trust exists between performer and audience before the curtain even rises.

Winning over old fans and new ones

The show attracts a wide mix of audiences, from those who grew up watching Cooper on television to younger viewers discovering him for the first time. While teenagers may initially be unsure of Cooper’s old-fashioned jokes and chaotic magic, Hewer notes that once they understand the act’s deliberate clumsiness, they quickly warm to it. The humour, rooted in silliness and mischief rather than topical references, proves timeless.

Why intimacy matters on stage

Having performed everywhere from the Museum of Comedy to the Edinburgh Fringe and even cruise ships, Hewer feels the show works best in smaller, more intimate venues like Century Theatre. Cooper’s comedy thrives on audience connection, hearing individual laughs, sensing reactions, and building instant rapport, something that is harder to achieve in larger spaces.

A daughter’s blessing

Crucially, the production has the support of Tommy Cooper’s daughter, Vicky Cooper. For Hewer, her approval means everything.

“For me he’s an icon, but for her he was her dad,” he says.

Vicky Cooper reviewed the script and praised the show for treating her father’s legacy with care and reverence, a relationship that has continued throughout the show’s long-running success.

Keeping Cooper alive night after night

Rather than sticking rigidly to one set routine, Hewer keeps the show fresh by rotating material. With hours of jokes, magic tricks, songs and stories at his disposal, no two performances are the same. Early in the process, Hewer meticulously studied Cooper’s rhythms, pauses and physicality, transcribing performances word-for-word to recreate the character faithfully.

Two hours of escape

Above all, Hewer hopes audiences leave having escaped everyday worries.

“For two hours, I want people to forget their phones, the news, and everything going on outside,” he says.

Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show offers nostalgia, laughter and warmth, a reminder of why Tommy Cooper remains one of Britain’s most loved entertainers.

John Hewer’s tour continues across the Midlands and beyond into the summer. Hambledon Productions will also be returning to the Century Theatre in September 2026 with The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old Town London. Book your tickets online.