Comedian Andrew McBurney has died.
No details have been released but it has been widely shared on Facebook that he died on Friday night.
McBurney was born in Glasgow, but moved to the Black Country as a teen and was a regular figure on the Midlands comedy scene. He often worked with Jack Kirwan. They performed regularly when Kirwan played his Gary Powndland character and more recently they had also had a podcast as the Weird Arseholes with Paul Palmer. McBurney is pictured here with Kirwan when they played a major tour in 2021/2022.
The Gary Powndland Facebook lage posted: "It is with the heaviest heart I have to tell you the tragic news that last night we lost the incandescent Andrew McBurney. (Barry Mullet). We are absolutely devastated beyond belief. We found one another in the dark and saved each other’s lives. We lived together, wrote together, performed together, laughed together and cried together. I will mourn the loss of my beautiful friend for the rest of my life.
He was kind, thoughtful, ridiculously talented, gifted, dedicated to his art, humble and loving. I was nothing until I met that man. He is half the reason the Gary Powndland character and world exist. I would’ve walked away from comedy if I hadn’t met him.
He has made me promise him that I will carry on and never quit. On everything I hold dear to me I will keep that promise. Our friendship was so special. He showed me new music, films, art I hadn’t seen before. He opened my eyes to new ways of thinking.
I will be forever proud of what we achieved together in the world of comedy. We created our own unique brand of comedy based on our working class roots and our love for the absurd. We called it ‘Squalid Surrealism’.
We were two different people with different interests but we both had big hearts that we shared with each other. I will cherish the memories of sitting next to him on stage during double act routines and looking across at him as we both desperately to keep it together. We had a chemistry. We never knew why it was there but it just was.
I used to look across at the stage at him and be in awe, in real time. The first time me and my Dad saw him perform it was like being struck by comedy lightning. He was the real fucking deal, and left audiences and fellow acts in his wake up and down the country. I am lost but I am lucky to have my family who absolutely adored Andy like I did, and he them.
My deepest love goes to all of the McBurneys and Paul Palmer who he totally adored. I will carry you with me forever pal, I love you mate. I will see you on stage in the next life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You’re broken hearted friend,
My heart was broken, my heart was broken
Sorrow, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow
My heart was broken, my heart was broken
You saw it, You claimed it
You touched it, You saved it
While I'm worth my room on this Earth
I will be with you
While the Chief puts sunshine on Leith
I'll thank Him for His work
And your birth, and my birth
Yeah, yeah, yeah"
The Weird Arseholes Facebook page posted: "It is with great sadness to tell you all that our brother, our wonderful friend and one of the kindest souls in the universe, Andrew McBurney has passed away. He was loved by all and surrounded by family and loved ones. Myself and Jack cannot express the impact of this tragic loss. We ask at this time for privacy and respect for Andrew's friends and family. Love to you all. Paul."
As a solo stand-up McBurney got to the finals of ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ in Edinburgh, ‘Laughing Horse New Comedian of The Year’ in London and the BBC New Comedian of The Year in 2014.
