Tom Allen has us howling with laughter on shows including Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice, but his memoir Too Much gives an insight into the other side of his character – sensitive and caring.
As he reflects on his dad's death, which happened two years ago after a sudden heart attack at the age of 80, the 40-year-old takes a trip down memory lane and discusses his childhood, life growing up in Bromley, Kent and times at school.
Admitting he struggled to navigate life at his tough comprehensive school and that he did his best to hide his sexuality and famously "camp and flamboyant personality" from his peers, Tom says, “It was hard and I was quite frightened at first."
The star, who now lives with his partner, actor Alfie Garston, 35 says: “I was always trying to hide away and not let on that I was gay or eccentric, or different from the rest of the boys. There were some bullies there, which I had to learn to live with.”
Luckily, Tom always had the love and support of his parents, Irene and Paul – even if coming out to them at the age of 21 was a nerve-racking process.
Recalling the day he decided to tell them he was gay, Tom says he opted to break the news to his dad long distance, rather than face-to-face.
“I told my mum first, because I instinctively thought she would understand,” he remembers.
“I then later told my dad over the phone. Oddly, Dad was more upset with me because I had felt unable to talk about it to him sooner – which sort of shocked me because in the end, when it mattered, he was more emotional than my mum.”
That's why, Tom admits, it was so difficult to face the heartbreak of losing such an influential figure in his life.
As something the comic is still learning to cope with, Tom says writing Too Much was helpful, as it enabled him to reflect on the happy times, as well as the shock of this unexpected loss.
Too Much by Tom Allen (Coronet, £10.99) is out now. For Completely tour dates and tickets, see tomindeed.com
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