Hovis Presley

Who was Hovis Presley?

Hovis Presley was an English poet and stand-up comedian from Bolton, Lancashire, noted for his down to earth humour.

Born as Richard Henry McFarlane, he attended Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton and went on to graduate from Bradford University. He went on to have a variety of jobs and travelled widely, from labouring on German railways to teaching English in Cairo, Egypt and India. The choice of stage persona "Hovis Presley" was in itself a deft example of aspects of his work - ironic word-play, incongruously blending the expected norms of poetry with slightly surreal evocations of ordinary, and distinctively Northern English life.

Presley began writing poems and sketches as a teenager but only ventured out onto the North West comedy circuit at the age of 29. His poem, "I Rely On You", was used by many couples in wedding ceremonies.

Presley often performed his poems in a live environment, running an "alternative to alternative comedy clubs" and frequently appearing on radio with John Shuttleworth and Mark Radcliffe among others. He also appeared on the BBC Three show Whine Gums, which presented many modern poets reading their work. His 1997 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show was described as "an hour of great material, lovingly performed" and sold out. Presley, however, was terrified by this level of success and vanished. The shows were pulled and he was eventually found by police.