He dubbed London a "malodorous rat-pit" and insisted its inhabitants move up to Birmingham.
Now comedian and Switch Radio host Jay Islaam gives us eight more glorious reasons to love our city in 2017...
Unlike some places the West Midlands isn't renowned for being a production line for comedy superstars.
In the 60s we gave the world Tony Hancock.
Jasper Carrott, Lenny Henry and Frank Skinner represented us leading up to the millennium.
And Christian-taunting beatnik Stewart Lee has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity since he returned to stand up in the mid-noughties. It’s been slim pickings otherwise.
However, over the last few years a new generation of Brummie stand ups have been making their mark on the national comedy circuit.
It’s an exciting time for the local scene.
Here’s eight funny men and women you should look out for in 2017.
MASAI GRAHAM
West Brom care worker Masai is the man of the moment, picking up three major prizes last year.
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He won Breakthrough Act at the Midlands Comedy Awards, UK Pun Champion at the Leicester Comedy Festival, and Joke of the Year at the Edinburgh Fringe.
As a result he’s been invited to perform at hundreds of venues across the UK.
'The Prince of Puns'
Nicknamed “The Prince of Puns”, Masai took four different shows to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2016, all of them so popular they were standing room only.
While, as a joke writer, he sometimes draws comparisons with Bob Monkhouse and Gary Delaney, his laconic “stoner” persona is wholly unique and has proved a big hit with audiences.
NICK CLARKE
A finalist in the prestigious English Comedian of the Year competition, and three-time nominee for Best MC at the Midlands Comedy Awards, Walsall-based Nick is widely regarded as one of the best comedy compères around.
His quick-fire banter with audiences mean he’s often called upon to warm up the crowd at comedy clubs across the country, and his talents have even caught the attention of legendary clubs like the world-famous Comedy Store.
To see more of him, check out his Laff Attack comedy club , which attracts some big names from TV.
'professional poker player'
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Before he was making strangers laugh, Nick worked as a celebrity bodyguard, personal trainer and professional poker player.
Then, six years ago, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his heroes Billy Connolly, Tommy Cooper, Mickey Flanagan, and pursue his dreams of being a professional comedian.
It’s been a bumpy road though, particularly when he first started. The first time his then-girlfriend came to see him perform, he had a particularly bad gig and she promptly dumped him immediately after the show!
HANNAH SILVESTER
Single mom Hannah, who hails from Sutton Coldfield, is a huge Victoria Wood fan, and once met her comedy idol backstage while working for a local theatre.
It was the only highlight of a job she describes as the worst of her career.
'Shakespeare fanatic'
An admirer of bittersweet British observational comedy, as well as a Shakespeare fanatic, Hannah’s been writing sketches and monologues since her schooldays.
But she only got involved in stand-up after forcing herself to attend a local comedy workshop.
She hasn’t looked back since, and won Breakthrough Act at the Midlands Comedy Awards in 2014.
Her self-deprecating, affable and very personal stories have ensured she’s in big demand on the Midlands comedy circuit.
And she’ll soon be performing a solo show at the Midlands Arts Centre on March 11 2017.
MOSES ALI KHAN
Moseley-based Moses is one of the hottest newcomers on the UK comedy scene right now.
Winner of five different new act awards last year, he’s proved to be an outstanding producer of dark, near-the-knuckle one-liners, reminiscent in some ways of Frankie Boyle.
'provocateur?'
As a teen, Moses dreamed of being a rapper, and was prodigiously writing rhymes for more than a decade before it was interrupted by health issues.
Nowadays, in his thirties, when not spending time with his kids, he’s working on writing new material for a show at the Leicester Comedy Festival and sketches for YouTube that he’ll be rolling out later this summer.
THOMAS RACKHAM
Multi-award-winning Thomas holds the title Comedy Gladiator of the Year having triumphed last year in a Roman-themed competition for new acts.
This Shard End native first took to the stage exactly three years ago and has gone on to impress at big comedy clubs all over England.
'Comedy Gladiator of the Year'
A prolific writer, his cache of material expanded significantly a few months ago as his wedding gave him a whole host of funny new experiences to draw upon.
Thomas is an admirer of several comedy double acts: Vic & Bob, The Mighty Boosh and anarchic pioneers Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson.
So it’s no surprise he’s been writing and performing comedy sketches in collaboration with several Midlands-based comedians.
The former club DJ is now a passionate podcaster and you can listen to his TOAD Radio show online.
NATALIE CUTLER
While she’s relatively new to stand up, Natalie is no stranger to the spotlight.
She won the Miss Black Country title back in 2007 and subsequently enjoyed a successful modelling career that took her all over the world.
Don’t mistake her for an airhead though.
She’s got plenty to say about politics and big ambitions to boot – one of them being a Parliamentary career!
'Miss Black Country'
Natalie’s debut solo show Not Yet Suffragette - about how far we haven’t come in terms of equality - made a big splash at the Brighton Comedy Festival last year, winning critical acclaim and an award nomination.
This year, she’ll be taking it on a tour of UK venues.
She’s also been making her mark as a TV presenter on local television, and will also be releasing her first ever feature length documentary in 2017.
TOM CHRISTIAN
Meat Loaf-lookalike Tom is a big fan of Jerry Seinfeld and it shows.
His clever multi-layered observations have won him awards and plaudits galore since he started performing back in 2013.
Tom’s reputation as a prolific and witty gagsmith has taken him all over the UK comedy circuit, and he hopes to one day graduate to writing films and sitcoms.
'dark and edgy'
While he’s known for coming up with clean and clever routines about usually mundane topics, he’s more than capable of throwing out the occasional dark and edgy joke that will have punters gasping with both shock and laughter.
HARV HAWKINS
Winner of the Breaking Talent prize at last year’s Birmingham Comedy Festival, Harv has had a rapid rise up the comedy ladder.
He’s been featured on Radio 4, as part of their search for new comedy talent, and you’ll be seeing more of him at the Glee Club later this year.
'sardonic'
At times there’s a whiff of Milton Jones about him, but he’s also got a great line in sarcastic observational humour.
As well as making his mark as a comedian, he’s also launched a successful comedy night in his home village of Balsall Common, attracting some top names, that he hosts himself every few months.
Jay Islaam presents the Comedy Cannon arts and culture show on Switch Radio every Friday between 4pm and 7pm.