When Sadiq Khan appointed comedian Amy Lamé as London’s first-ever ‘Night Tsar’, some viewed it as a surprising choice. Lamé, known for her work as a performer and broadcaster, had previously earned a modest income and was not a traditional candidate for such a role.
Before her appointment, Lamé had made a name for herself with one-woman shows like Gay Man Trapped in a Lesbian’s Body and by establishing Duckie at the Vauxhall Tavern, a renowned LGBTQ+ club night.
Despite her unconventional background, Lamé promised to address the issue of venue closures in London, which was a growing concern.
Since taking on the role, Lamé has remained in her position, which comes with a six-figure salary. However, despite her efforts, the closure of bars, clubs, and pubs in London has continued, with around 1,100 venues shutting down annually in recent years.
Sadiq Khan and Colleague (Credits: Daily Mail)
Despite this, Lamé has been active in her role, taking at least 12 foreign trips since 2017 to cities like Mumbai, Melbourne, Sydney, Boston, Bologna, Berlin, Paris, Tallinn, and Lviv.
These trips have been for purposes such as building partnerships, studying nightlife, and attending conferences, although there was a significant gap in her travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While some may question the effectiveness of Lamé’s role given the ongoing closures of nightlife venues, she remains committed to her position and continues to believe it is the ‘best job in the world’ given to her by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
