Comedian Emmanuel Sonubi has revealed how surviving heart failure on stage transformed his outlook on life and comedy. The standup, who nearly died during a performance five years ago, says the experience made him realise that a bad gig is no longer a big deal. 'Going through heart failure changed my perspective. We all know we're going to die, but none of us believe it. When you're faced with your own mortality and get a second chance, everything suddenly feels like a bonus,' he said.
Sonubi's new show, Life After Near Death, explores this life-changing event with honesty. He admitted it took years to process the experience enough to talk about it on stage. 'Being able to say it out loud without breaking... it doesn't necessarily get easier, it just becomes more necessary,' he explained.
The comedian got his start after a friend convinced him to try an open mic night at the Comedy Pub in central London. 'From the first joke I told, I thought: "Yeah, this is me,"' he recalled. One of his career highlights was performing on Live at the Apollo, a goal he achieved within six years of starting comedy, despite sceptics.
Sonubi also shared a memorable heckle where an audience member asked if he was 'that guy from The Green Mile'. Quick-witted, he replied: 'Mate, I look nothing like Tom Hanks,' winning the room back. He has also performed on cruise ships, where he tests his material on older audiences. 'If you can get it to work there, it works in the clubs,' he said.
