Felix Hlophe on his comedy special, fat jokes, sex and cheating

Born and raised in Umlazi, Durban, Felix Hlophe is one of South Africa’s most prominent comedians and beloved radio personalities.  
 
With his hit reality series Life With Felix heading towards its finale on 31 July on Mzansi Magic and a stand-up comedy special airing on Showmax on 15 August as part of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, Felix is once again proving there’s no topic too personal or too controversial for his comedic lens. 

Felix sat down with us to talk about his set, his fearless content, and how he balances raw truth with roaring laughter. 

In your stand-up comedy special, you get real about personal topics like infidelity in marriage. Do you ever run that material by your wife first? 

Absolutely. When I returned to stand-up with one-man shows, I had just met my wife, Tracy. Since then, every special, from The Main Side Chick to I Hate My Wife, has been rooted in our marriage. It’s my truth, and I’ve never shied away from telling it. 

Tracy understands the craft. She knows it’s comedy, she knows it’s real and she definitely enjoys spending the proceeds! At the end of the day, it’s our life, and who better to tell that story than me? 

In your set, you also use comedy to tackle sensitive topics like sex and the HIV/Aids pandemic. Some people think South Africans joke too much, even about serious stuff. What’s your take? 

It’s all about the mechanics of comedy: you either shock people into laughter or guide them into it. Yes, HIV/Aids is serious, and many of us have lost loved ones to it. But sometimes laughter is the medicine. With regards to sex, what’s so sensitive about it? It’s sex. We all do it, so why not just speak about and make light of what we get up to in between the sheets? 

You have to be careful with delivery, but the truth is: if comedians don’t talk about these things, who will? I see myself as the medicine man of comedy. We’re living through hard, unpredictable times; people need to laugh now more than ever. 

You also talk about society’s obsession with body image. How do you handle that, especially in an industry that’s so image-focused? 

I’m very confident in how I look and feel. I believe it’s my talent, not my physique, that opens doors for me. I focus on what I bring to the table and if I make people feel good through my comedy, I’ve done my job. 

Yes, I’m fat. But honestly? I don’t care. If it becomes a problem, I can deal with it. It’s really not that deep. 

Be honest: have you ever completely flopped on stage? 

At the risk of sounding arrogant … never. Every joke I tell is well thought-out. If I’m unsure of something, it stays on paper. The ones I perform? They’re tested, timed, and placed with precision. That’s how I keep my sets strong. 

For those who didn’t catch you live, why should they stream the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, especially your episode? 

Honestly, it’s an honour to be part of this festival. Working alongside legends like Stuart Taylor, who I’ve admired forever, is surreal. 

For us comedians, being part of The Laugh Africa Comedy Festival is a huge milestone. Holding the stage solo in front of a massive crowd isn’t for the faint-hearted. When I got the call to perform, I thought, “Yoh … I’ve arrived.” It’s been the apex of my career, and I hope to be back again next year. 

Catch Felix Hlophe on the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, streaming on Showmax from 15 August 2025. 

He’ll be joined by comedy heavyweights including Griff, Rob Van Vuuren, Celeste Ntuli Robbie Collins, Felix Hlophe, Patrick Salvado, Jam Jam the Comedian, Ntosh Madlingozi, Mark Banks, Kagiso ‘KG’ Mokgadi, Nonto R, and Trevor Gumbi, with Eugene Khoza as host. 

Don’t miss the final episode of Life with Felix on Mzansi Magic (Channel 161), airing on 31 July 2025.