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Aussie comedian Jim Jefferies bringing new arena tour to Australia in August

Comedian Jim Jefferies — who will bring a new arena tour to Australia this year — has revealed the first thing he does when touching down in his home state. Find out what it is.

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Love him, hate him — chances are, if you’ve heard of Australian comedian Jim Jefferies, you’ve got an opinion. Having sold out arenas worldwide – including iconic venues like New York’s Madison Square Garden and London’s O2 Arena, the Sydney-born funnyman bringing a brand new arena tour home in August.

“I do look forward to coming home,” Jefferies said.

“I live in America where they can’t for the life of ‘em make nice bread. It’s complete garbage. First thing I do when I get into an Australian hotel is get a kilo of cooked prawns and a loaf of white bread and go crazy.”

The 45-year-old has hosted his own late-night talk show, starred in a sitcom he also wrote and directed, has nine Netflix specials, and still regularly tours the world selling out his stand-up shows. But his name may have also entered your consciousness for entirely the wrong reasons.

Australian comedian Jim Jefferies in 2018.
Australian comedian Jim Jefferies in 2018.

You might have read a scathing review of one of his shows or been outraged by his Netflix special Freedumb. You may have indulged in a late night deep dive of his older material on YouTube and found yourself offended.

As the polarising stand-up (dubbed a “filthy comic” by The Guardian in 2017) and simultaneously family-man TV host of Channel 7’s 1% club game show — Jefferies is a man of contradictions.

“At the moment, a lot of my show is whole heap of stories,” he told Confidential. “A lot of it’s about being a dad these days, and the shift between being a party animal guy and being a father with two kids,” he said.

Australian comedian Jim Jefferies performing at Luna Park in 2023. Photo: Jeff Williamson.
Australian comedian Jim Jefferies performing at Luna Park in 2023. Photo: Jeff Williamson.

“I reckon I’m the disciplinarian in the house but I’m not much of one. I think my kids run pretty wild to be honest with ya, but it just so happens they’re pretty well behaved. When it comes to eating well, I’m the guy. Which is weird. Because my ex is very healthy, she jogs every day. My wife’s a vegan.”

Jefferies has an two-year-old son, whom he shares with wife Tasie Lawrence, and an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.

“But I’m the guy going you’ve got to eat fruit and vegetables. I don’t how that happened because I’m always eating fast food and hiding it from everybody and throwing it away before I get in the house.”

There will be couple special routines in the new Give ‘Em What They Want Tour, Jefferies said.

“I always have a couple routines in my back pocket that I can only perform in Australia – if I performed them anywhere else they’d never understand me.”

During his downtime in Sydney though, he’ll be: “Cating up with people and eating bread. That to me is the greatest thing I can do in life.”

Jefferies will return to Australian arenas this August for his national Give ‘Em What They Want Tour, performing at the International Convention Centre on August 14.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/aussie-comedian-jim-jefferies-bringing-new-arena-tour-to-australia-in-august/news-story/c26bb79d19e5f7da63d2cd5adba2d335