Comedian Dom Joly meets Big Issue vendor André to lift the lid on homelessness – and his new novel

Big Issue vendor André Rostant has teamed up with comedian Dom Joly to discuss his book and raise cash for the Big Issue at a packed event in London.

Rostant released The Muffin Man last year. The novel, which he penned while living in temporary accommodation, tells the story of George, a Big Issue vendor in Soho, in London’s West End. 

But rather than an autobiographical take on Rostant’s life, the book is a frank exploration into the lives of those at the heart of bohemian Soho. The story explores alienation and sheds light on the most pressing issues in society today – and the still desperate need for change.

The Big Issue vendor’s novel found a kinship with Joly, who said his experience of street comedy while filming Trigger Happy TV helped him to connect with the book.

The pair discussed The Muffin Man at Stanfords bookshop in Covent Garden on 9 January with all ticket proceeds and a percentage of book sales going to the Big Issue.

Rostant said following the event: “I found the evening astonishing. I was very flattered, I hadn’t expected that. It was just a privilege to be here and I’m very lucky fortunate with my friends, with the Big Issue and with my circumstances.

“Despite being homeless and being destitute, I’m the happiest man in the world at the moment.”

Long-time Big Issue seller Rostant released the book in June last year as his latest creative work alongside his passion for poetry and calypso music.

He met Vivien Godfrey, Stanfords CEO, while selling the Big Issue on his pitch at Long Acre, Covent Garden.

That paved the way for an evening in conversation with Joly discussing the changing face of Soho and the alienation people who are marginalised often face.

“It’s meant to put you on edge and slightly annoy you. The book is about how people cope with this situation and how people don’t cope with it,” Rostant told the audience.

“Being homeless, even though we are living in temporary accommodation, your time is consumed by trying to contact councils and lots of other things. You become unreliable as an employee, it’s very difficult to hold down a regular job so what the Big Issue does is give me the opportunity to work as and when I can and get some cash.”

The Muffin Man earned praise from Joly who said that the book defied his expectations.

“When I first heard about it, I assumed it was going to have a touch of Down and Out in Paris and London, it would be: ‘This is what it’s like to work on the street or being in temporary accommodation,’” he said. “But it’s not at all, it’s a proper work of literature. It’s a proper book, it just happens to be written by someone who does that.” 

Instead, Joly felt compelled to act as Rostant’s “hype man” after connecting with the book’s themes and the pair’s shared street history.

“What links me to André is a lot of my comedy is street comedy, I was filming a lot on the street. You would spend all day walking around, annoying members of the public. I was thinking when I read your book and I was thinking about this story,” said Joly.

He added: “You’re very like me in that I, sort of, downplay my book. That’s why I’m here, I’m your hype man. It’s very difficult to talk about your own book anyway but if you’re normal and modest then you don’t really want to blow your own trumpet. Essentially you want to tell people this is a brilliant book and you must read it but you’re not going to say that so I’m going to say that.”

The Muffin Man by Andre Rostant (Arkbound, £12.99) is available to buy now.

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