John performed stand up regularly from 1996-2000, then left the circuit to host and co-create The Recommended Daily Allowance (The RDA), a nightly comedy/talk show for BBC Choice, which by turns infatuated and infuriated BBC bosses and won a devoted mini-following, running for two years until the channel was rebranded as BBC Three. He has also directed countless live shows, including the Perrier-nominated offerings of comedian Reginald D. Hunter, as well as two seasons of the celebrated weekly gang show Ealing Live! He also directed/produced/edited Eddie Izzard's Unrepeatable and Live at the Ambassadors shows, as well as various comedy shows for BBC, ITV & Channel 4, but not The Office or anything really interesting like that so let’s stop the barrel-scraping before it gets sad.
John returned to live stand-up in 2006 and performed his debut solo show Free John Gordillo at the Free Festival at Edinburgh 2007.
"The most expensive comedy this year is Ricky Gervais at £37.50. I can say honestly, John Gordillo's of the same calibre and he's free" -- ***** Three Weeks
John’s 2nd stand up show, Divide and Conga, went on to become one of the most acclaimed of Edinburgh 2008, receiving 4 and 5 star reviews across the board.
“Intellectual yet heartfelt, Gordillo makes the personal political with the sort of relaxed intelligence associated with Reginald D. Hunter, whose shows Gordillo used to direct. It’s the kind of show that makes you delighted to be at the Fringe." - The Times
“A grown-up comic who combines emotional intimacy with high-quality gags. You may not find a more accomplished Fringe show." – The Guardian
John is currently performing all over the UK, @ the Comedy Store, Jongleurs, The Stand, The Glees and other places people say to prove they’re doing well. He has also done stand up in Hong Kong, Bangkok, The Alps, Bahrain, Madrid, Barcelona and Cyprus as well as at the Amsterdam Comedy Festival and Latitude.
Press
"Superlative. Wonderfully intelligent and insightful...a consummate comedian" - Time Out
"One of our finest stand ups" - Evening Standard
"An inspiring comic thinker” - The Guardian
“Brilliant. Poignantly funny” – The Scotsman
"Gordillo is an inspiration, a consummate performer with an amazing talent, passion and intellect. If you are after cheap, silly laughs avoid, but if you want intelligent, moving comedy with a point, you cannot afford to miss." – Chortle
“Brilliant. Heartfelt and hilarious... he’s dynamite” – The Times
"manages the rare trick of being moving and wildly funny" - Metro
“Inspired” – Edinburgh Evening News