John Dowie is a British comedian, musician and writer who was a pioneer of alternative comedy and is credited with establishing observational humour as part of the new movement. He’s often called 'Britain's first alternative comedian’. He toured with and influenced another alternative pioneer, Victoria Wood. As well as writing songs and sketches with her, he is credited with helping her to develop her future trademark patter between songs. Dowie was among the inaugural acts on Tony Wilson's Factory Records label. In 1978 he contributed three comedic songs to the first Factory music release, A Factory Sample, along with Joy Division. As a director, he’s directed shows by, among others, Neil Innes, Arthur Smith, Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden and Simon Munnery and he wrote Jesus – My Boy which was performed in London’s West End by Tom Conti and around the world. He has written many books including The Freewheeling John Dowie, Dogman and Hard To Swallow. John Dowie is guest number 232 on My Time Capsule and chats to Michael Fenton Stevens about the five things he'd like to put in a time capsule; four he’d like to preserve and one he’d like to bury and never have to think about again .Follow John Dowie on Twitter: @dowiejohn .Follow My Time Capsule on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @MyTCpod .Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter: @fentonstevens and Instagram @mikefentonstevens .Produced and edited by John Fenton-Stevens for Cast Off Productions .Music by Pass The Peas Music .Artwork by matthewboxall.com .This podcast is proud to be associated with the charity Viva! Providing theatrical opportunities for hundreds of young people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.