On 20th July, HarperCollins will publish his debut book ‘ Normal Schmormal: My occasionally helpful guide to parenting kids with special needs’. It is a part-comic memoir and part how-to guide and highlights the challenges and rewards of raising a family which doesn’t fit into society’s definition of ‘normal’. The series brings a whole new perspective to the subject of parenting. That is because as parents of six children, Ashley and his wife Gemma are trying to raise a family in a world that is only really set up for having two. What's more, the Blakers’ children are not just any kids. Three have special needs – two autistic boys and an adopted girl with Down Syndrome – and Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children sensitively finds the funny in both raising children with disabilities and adoption.

Ashley Blaker: ‘In lockdown I was both a lecturer and Ashley Blaker: ‘In lockdown I was both a lecturer and

But at the time of her adoption 10 years ago, he and Gemma had their hands full with three young boys, prompting many to ask why they wanted to put themselves forward. Ashley Blaker says: "Being a parent is tough and raising kids with special needs is even tougher. That's why I am delighted to share our story with readers and hopefully provide some much-needed light relief. Thankfully this book was very easy to write since our kids provide so much comic material it could have stretched to five volumes." He adds: “When you go into the meeting you immediately know how it’s going to go, because if it’s more positive, they put biscuits on the table. And if it’s a more negative one, they put a box of tissues. I’ve seen the tissues before and thought I’ll just make an excuse to move the car and leave. You become quite adept at handling these things.”The story of how he came to adopt a child with Down syndrome is deserving of its own episode – the second programme in the series. His love for Soroh is obvious – in fact he heart-warmingly admits he loves her more than his biological children. He smiles: “Maybe it brought us all together a bit closer as a family. We got to see the children in a new light and spent a bit more time with them – and we got to have a year off from all the birthday parties.” He is joined by Shelley Blond, Kieran Hodgson, Rosie Holt and Judith Jacob, as well as his children appearing as themselves: Ami, 17, Ophie, 15, Simi, 13, Soroh, 12, Sruly, 11 and Bina, seven.

Ashley Blaker announces Normal Schmormal - TotalNtertainment Ashley Blaker announces Normal Schmormal - TotalNtertainment

Ashley Blaker said: ‘ Being a parent is tough and raising kids with special needs is even tougher. That’s why I am delighted to share our story with people and hopefully provide some much-needed light relief. Thankfully our kids provide so much comic material this has all taken much less time to write than you might imagine.’ If you do nothing, you will be auto-enrolled in our premium digital monthly subscription plan and retain complete access for 65 € per month. There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride. Comedy provided a coping mechanism for the Edgware resident to deal with, as he calls it in his typically droll way, “meetings, meetings and incessant meetings”. The heart-warming and hilarious part-memoir, part-guide from comedian and father-of-six Ashley Blaker, on parenting, adoption and raising children with special needs.Blaker’s parenting skills have never been so tested, however, than in the past year, when he suddenly found himself home schooling six children across a range of ages and abilities, an unenviable experience he explores in the fourth episode. In 2017, he was commissioned by the BBC to create a show called Ashley Blaker’s Goyish Guide To Judaism, which was described as “an insider’s view of his religion”.

BBC Radio 4 - Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, Series 1, The BBC Radio 4 - Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children, Series 1, The

On 2nd August, he heads to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to debut a new comedy inspired by the book, also called ‘Normal Schmormal’. The show will be performed daily at Underbelly at 5:15pm and is produced by Mark Watson’s Impatient Productions. The star of BBC Radio 4's hit comedy 6.5 Children takes to the road in a new stand-up show, based on the best-selling book of the same name, about the joys of raising children with special needs. The publishers explain: " Ashley Blaker has six children, three of whom have an SEN diagnosis. Between endless meetings, countless therapists, public humiliations, failed playdates, surreal monologues and occasional violence, it's certainly not what anyone would call a 'normal' household - but would he want it any other way?"You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. Ashley Blaker is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, writer and producer. He has played sell out residencies in London, on Broadway, and at the Edinburgh Festival, as well as touring in the UK and worldwide including the USA, Canada, and Australia. This summer comedian Ashley Blakerwillcompletelychange how people talk about parenting children with special needs, when his book is published and his Radio 4 series, Edinburgh Fringe run and UK tour commence. It made me realise some things are more interesting than you take for granted. People would kind of gasp, but as I would say, ‘Guys, you don’t even know the half of it.’”

Normal Schmormal: My occasionally helpful guide to parenting

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In 2017, Blaker was commissioned by the BBC to create a show called Ashley Blaker's Goyish Guide To Judaism, [11] described as "an insider's view of his religion"". [12] It was broadcast in June 2018 as part of BBC Radio Four's Stand-Up Specials series. [13] A follow-up was commissioned and broadcast in 2019. [14]