23 Facts About Ivor Dembina

Ivor Joseph Dembina was born on 14 April 1951 and is a British stand-up comedian and writer in the alternative tradition from London.

Ivor Dembina created and compered a show called Comic Abuse at Pleasance Courtyard in the late 80s, which became a successful fixture and introduced acts such as Jo Brand and Jack Dee.

Ivor Dembina is cited as an early influence by Stewart Lee.

Ivor Dembina wrote for the first season of the Omid Djalili Show on BBC1.

Ivor Dembina appeared in the first season of Eye Spy as 'Jewish Dad' on Channel 4.

Ivor Dembina was the first stand-up comedian to perform a solo comedy show at the Houses of Parliament.

Ivor Dembina's comedy focuses on his Jewish background and his political outlook.

Ivor Dembina has attracted attention for his anti-Zionist and socialist views.

In 2004, while on his way to perform stand-up comedy in Israel and the West Bank, Ivor Dembina was detained for several hours by Israeli police at Ben Gurion Airport after his name reportedly appeared on a list of "known radicals".

In 2008, Ivor Dembina organised a comedy event called "60 Years: What A State" on Israel's independence day, Yom Ha'atzmaut.

Ivor Dembina branded the gala's headliner, American comedian Jackie Mason, a "bad Jewish joke", citing Mason's support for Israel and that comedian Ray Hanania, of Palestinian descent, had been dropped from supporting Mason on tour in 2002.

In 2011, Ivor Dembina threatened legal action and called for an investigation after a protester interrupted his Edinburgh Fringe preview show at a Jewish community centre in Golders Green, accusing him of performing a "tame version for a Jewish audience" and demanding that he reveal his anti-Israel views.

In late 2013 and early 2014, Ivor Dembina joined other artists and writers including Nigel Kennedy, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Mark Steel at St James's Church, Piccadilly for Bethlehem Unwrapped, a festival during the Christmas season that drew attention to the Israeli West Bank barrier.

In 2014, Ivor Dembina caused consternation among sections of the Jewish community for organising a benefit show for the people of the Gaza Strip with Daniel Kitson, Josie Long and fellow Jewish comic Andy Zaltzman.

In 2015, Ivor Dembina attracted the interest of the political community for his willingness to use sensitive subjects such as the Holocaust, Israel and Jewish stereotypes in his material.

Ivor Dembina is a Labour Party member of the Vauxhall Constituency Labour Party.

In 1994 Ivor Dembina hosted a benefit for Jewish Socialist magazine at the Cochrane Theatre with Jo Brand, Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith and Arnold Brown.

Ivor Dembina toured Israel and the West Bank with his show This is Not a Subject for Comedy in 2003.

Ivor Dembina performed the first comedy gig at the UK Houses of Parliament in 2010.

Ivor Dembina has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 1991.

Ivor Dembina has contributed to many comedy books and been featured in several others.

Since 1985, Ivor Dembina has founded and run several comedy clubs.

Ivor Dembina won a Malcolm Hardee award in 2022, and the 'Editors Pick of the Fringe' award at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe.