Normal Schmormal: My occasionally helpful guide to parenting kids with special needs (Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, neurodivergence)

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Comedian Ashley Blaker has written new book Normal Schmormal: My Occasionally Helpful Guide To Parenting Kids With Special Needs. Then everyone’s trying to use the internet and it’s not working because everyone’s trying to do too much, too many people on it, and we haven’t got enough devices and it’s too noisy. In episode one, Ashley considers the downside to having a large family - including a morning routine so challenging it would give Michael McIntyre a heart attack and an almost never ending need to replace phone chargers.

Normal Schmormal: My occasionally helpful guide to parenting

This summer comedian Ashley Blakerwillcompletelychange how people talk about parenting children with special needs, when his book is published and his Radio 4 series, Edinburgh Fringe run and UK tour commence. Also appearing as themselves are Ashley’s own children: Ami (17), Ophie (15), Simi (13), Soroh (12), Sruly (11) and Bina (7). He has played sell out residencies in London, on Broadway, and at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as touring in the UK and worldwide including the USA, Canada, and Australia.That was followed up by his debut stand-up show, Observant Jew, at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while two years ago, he teamed up with Muslim comedian Imran Yusuf for their UK tour, Prophet Sharing. Any changes made can be done at any time and will become effective at the end of the trial period, allowing you to retain full access for 4 weeks, even if you downgrade or cancel. Blaker suggested turning it into a radio show and despite the initial reluctance of Lucas' writing partner David Walliams, they decided to press ahead. He is joined by Shelley Blond, Kieran Hodgson, Rosie Holt and Judith Jacob, as well as his children appearing as themselves: Ami, 17, Ophie, 15, Simi, 13, Soroh, 12, Sruly, 11 and Bina, seven.

BBC Radio 4 - Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, Series 1, Too Many BBC Radio 4 - Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, Series 1, Too Many

Having made a name for himself as the fresh face of Orthodox Jewish comedy, Blaker’s religious identity – which he largely embraced in his twenties – has always been front and centre of his material. Children is a warts and all mix of stand-up and observational comedy that finds, even amid the madness of lockdown, missing phone chargers and the demands of raising special needs children, there are moments with more laughter than tears. He adds: “When you go into the meeting you immediately know how it’s going to go, because if it’s more positive, they put biscuits on the table. In episode two, Ashley tells the story of how the Blakers came to add to their already hectic home by adopting a two-year-old girl with Down Syndrome.HarperNonFiction has acquired World All Language Rights to ‘ Normal Schmormal: My occasionally helpful guide to parenting kids with special needs’ by comedian Ashley Blaker. If you’d like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. The Financial Times and its journalism are subject to a self-regulation regime under the FT Editorial Code of Practice. The show will be performed daily at Underbelly at 5:15pm and is produced by Mark Watson’s Impatient Productions.