From growing up on a Manchester council estate to gracing top comedy stages, Stephen Bailey’s journey is inspiring. In this interview, he discusses breaking into comedy, the importance of humour in the workplace, and how staying true to yourself can drive real cultural change.
“Where you start out doesn’t need to be where you have to end.”
A powerful advocate for inclusivity, Stephen shares why being authentic matters, especially when it comes to social mobility and overcoming class barriers.
How his working-class background shaped his comedic style
Stephen Bailey didn’t always plan on becoming a comedian. Growing up in a council estate in Manchester, he was drawn to entertainment but didn’t know how to get into it. “I was always interested in the entertainment industry,” he says, “but we couldn’t afford anything like drama school.” Despite this, he found his way into comedy through his part-time job at a supermarket. “I sort of felt like I was always giving a show,” he says, which led him to try stand-up at local pubs. “I just started giving it a go,” he recalls. “Luckily for me, the first one went really well.”
However, his early gigs weren’t always smooth sailing. “The next few did not go as well, to be fully honest,” he admits. “But then we got into the swing of things, and I just fell in love with making people laugh.” For Stephen, comedy became a way to connect with others and share the kind of banter he’d enjoyed on the checkouts.
The importance of connecting with different audiences across the UK
Stephen’s experience performing for a wide range of audiences has taught him the importance of adapting his material. “Every audience is different,” he explains. “You go to parts of the country where there’s a slightly older demographic, a lot more middle-class. Even your turns of phrase can be different.” He highlights how crucial it is to understand the crowd. “It’s really important for me to research the area I’m going to,” he says. “Now it’s a bit easier because I’ve been doing it for so long. You can walk in and say, ‘Oh, that’s a slightly more middle-class crowd.’”
He goes on to explain that part of the fun is seeing how different each performance can be. “Every room is different. The excitement for me, being a performer, is you sort of – even though we can maybe, perhaps, judge a book by its cover – you don’t really know what you’re getting until you step onto the stage,” he says. “If it is a crowd that likes a ruder joke, I’ll go that way. If they’re more clean, I’ll go that way. And that’s the beauty of it, I think.”
Why he believes fun and laughter are essential in today’s world, especially in the workplace
Humour also plays an important role in shaping a positive workplace culture, according to Stephen. He believes it can help improve morale and create a more enjoyable environment. “Everyone has had that sort of sense of dread on the Sunday night: ‘I’ve got to go into work on Monday morning,’” he says. “But I think by having that sense of fun – even in a corporate environment – you can still get through difficult challenges with a bit of camaraderie.” Stephen insists that having fun doesn’t take away from professionalism. “I think every time I have done an excellent job – and I’ve worked in a supermarket, I’ve worked for the NHS, I’ve worked in production – and every job… the best jobs were the ones where we also had a laugh together.”
Challenging misconceptions about social mobility and class
Stephen is also passionate about challenging misconceptions around social mobility. Growing up in poverty, he was often told that certain things “weren’t for you.” “I grew up being told to know your place,” he says. “And you believe it for too long that it sort of gets you behind everyone else, and it does hold you back.” He’s now using his success to inspire others. “I’m someone that grew up on food banks… and since then, I’ve hosted shows like Live at the Apollo, I’m currently in The Madame Blanc Mysteries, and that shouldn’t have been for me,” he says. “It’s really important that we do talk about it, because the only way people will know that they can move up the social ladder is by letting them hear stories that they’re familiar with.”
Stephen also speaks candidly about how people from working-class backgrounds are often judged differently for their ambition. “I’ve been denied jobs because they say, ‘Oh, we don’t think Stephen’s quite right for that… we need someone who’s more educated,’” he shares. He believes that these assumptions are harmful, adding, “I really think we should encourage people trying to better themselves.”
Fostering inclusivity and embracing authenticity in the workplace
When it comes to fostering inclusivity, Stephen believes businesses should focus on creating a space where people can be themselves. “You should be able to go to work and be your full authentic self,” he says. He stresses that this doesn’t mean being unprofessional but being free to express your individuality. “I shouldn’t have to put on more of an RP accent, for example, to highlight that I’m educated,” he says, sharing how his strong Manchester accent has sometimes worked against him in job interviews. “I’ve been denied jobs, and openly, because they go, ‘Oh, we don’t think Stephen’s quite right for that… you know, we need someone that’s more of a grasp of general knowledge.’”
For Stephen, inclusivity means embracing the full range of people’s identities. “I think the workplace can be guilty of going, ‘Everyone needs to fit into this box. Who are you according to this box?’” he says. “But life isn’t that simple.” He believes that when people feel free to be themselves, it creates a better environment for everyone. “Let people come in, be themselves, celebrate themselves,” he says. “That’s the best way to get the most out of people and make inclusivity just work.”
