'Painfully accurate and hilariously hopeless - a definitive 80's Stand-up comedy period drama - pain is funny and so is this ...' Helen Lederer 1981: it's the early days of alternative comedy and Barry is right in the thick of it with Harriet, the love of his life. In the hilarious follow-up to Stand Up, Barry Goldman, Barry still wants to be a comedian but comedy has other ideas - which is how he ends up as a trainee journalist on the Rotherham Times. Comedy careers forward without him, soon he is further from his dream of stand-up stardom than ever. He throws himself into the world of journalism and the arms of fellow trainee Sharon but continues to be lured by the glamour of fame and fortune. What's it to be? Fighter for the truth or the glory of the love of the crowd? Sooner or later he'll have to choose. Stand Up, Barry Goldman **** Chortle "Funny and fascinating, a lovely tale." Jo Brand "Powerfully funny, often moving. Dave has created the Jewish Adrian Mole of alternative comedy." David Quantick Barry Goldman: The Wilderness Years is the second in the Barry Goldman trilogy by top British comedy writer Dave Cohen, best known for his BAFTA winning songs for TV's Horrible Histories and as lead singer in the world's first Jewish heavy metal band, Guns'n'Moses. Barry Pulls It Off will be published in March 2026