Stand-up comedy news of new, rising, established and arena filling comedians from around the UK plus news of US stand-up shown in a blue panel

Explore a comprehensive guide to comedy tours and club dates across the UK here

Sugar Daddy Comes to Soho

US comedian Sam Morrison brings his critically acclaimed stand up show ‘Sugar Daddy’ for five dates at London’s Soho Theatre following a sell out run there earlier this year. The dates are Tuesday 24th – Saturday 28th October and follows on from his month-long run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

 

This Spring he performed an extended off-Broadway run at the Soho Playhouse with the show (hailed as “the best new show in New York right now” by the Daily Beast). This year he also debuted an outstanding set on ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’.
The show is a celebration of his partner, who sadly lost his life due to Covid.  Sam makes his own tragedy funny, despite his pain, giving hope to those in the same situation that light can be made from darkness…

In 2021, Sam began to write about his grief as a coping mechanism – to share Jonathan with others and to make fun of a society that didn’t know how to deal with him as a young widow. A few stories anchor the show and help Sam find meaning and connect to Jonathan in dark, silly, and practical ways.  

Last year Sam was mugged. The mugger said, “Give me your phone, I have a gun.”  But Sam said, “No. My boyfriend passed away and I have his photos on my phone.” He didn’t care… But Sam held his ground and said no enough times that the assailant gave in, and Sam ran off! …weeks later the wallet was found on the ground and returned to Sam by a Jehovah’s Witness. 

If Sam didn’t have enough to deal with, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Despite the trauma of the diagnosis, it snapped him out of my grief by forcing him to take care of himself. Ever since the doctor said the diagnosis was potentially triggered by the grief from losing Jonathan, Sam began to think of Jonathan as the glucose monitor on my arm (hence the name, Sugar Daddy). 


These storylines and a few others interweave throughout the nonlinear hour of the exploration of grief and love as Sam shares his experiences in grief groups, quarantining, grief fog, shame, sex drive, spiritual journey, and evolution of grief comedy, all colliding at the end in a frenzied sardonic sermon where he preaches to spread the Jehovah’s Witness gospel, and join in prayer – a call and response Jonathan and Sam developed in quarantine. 

 

Sam Morrison is originally from Sarasota, Florida but currently lives in Greenpoint where he is a staple of the Brooklyn comedy scene and plays ultimate frisbee with his least athletic friends. He is anxious gay diabetic Jew who finds humour in the sad, awkward, and shameful. 

Mike Bubbins is a 'Mammoth' Talent

If you saw Mike’s pilot sitcom ‘Mammoth’ (review) then you won’t want to miss him on tour.

Gareth Richards, comedian and radio host, has sadly died after being involved in a multiple car accident on the M25 Motorway near Heathrow Airport on March 27th. He was 41.

Deepest condolences to his wife and sons.

08.04.2023

Lucy Porter Touring

Following a successful run at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, comedian, actress, writer, voiceover artist and podcaster Lucy Porter is embarking on a national tour of her critically acclaimed show Wake-Up Call
Dates and tickets for the tour can be found on boundandgaggedcomedy.com

Janey Godley is not Cancer Free

Comedian Janey Godley has tweeted that recent test have shown that her incurable ovarian cancer is  unfortunately still active following treatment, Nevertheless she is planning to return to the stage with her ‘Not Dead Yet’ tour next spring.  All good wishes Janey

This is the statement Janey issued:

Charlie Baker is to take his stand-up show 24 Hour Pasty People on a tour of England and Wales between February and May 2023.

The changing stage of L.A. comedy

This special issue dedicated to L.A.’s stand-up comedy is more than just a spotlight on the scene that continues to give us laughs at a time when we need them the most — it’s a thank you. Thank you for your one-liners, your dirty jokes, your grit, your beauty and your (occasional) leniency when it comes to enforcing the club’s two-item minimum. Most of all, thank you all for your craziness that helps the people of L.A. keep their sanity, one punchline at a time.

Lou Sanders Mach Comedy Fest

As Lou Sanders sold out so quickly the venue has been moved and added more tickets! which are now available again for Lou Sanders 'Work in Progress' show Sunday 30th April, 2023 at 2:00 pm

Scott Bennett Wins MCA for 4th Time

Scott Bennett, the Nottinghamshire-based comedian was named best act at the Midlands Comedy Awards for the fourth time. In a change to previous years, the results were decided by industry vote, rather than a public vote, with only comedians and comedy producers able to take part in the secret ballot.

RUSSELL HOWARD TO TOUR BRAND NEW STAND-UP SHOW NEXT SPRING

Following the global success of second Netflix special Lubricant, six series of Sky’s hit The Russell Howard Hour spawning over 500 million views worldwide on social media and his third and biggest world tour to date, RespiteRussell Howard returns to the stage with brand-new show Russell Howard Live. Russell is set to put the world to rights in his own uniquely hilarious way over 52 shows at venues nationwide from 16th March to 17th June 2023, including Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on the 26th March, a five night homecoming run at the Bristol Hippodrome from 19th-23rd April and three nights at the London Palladium from 26th-28th April.

Tickets available  at russell-howard.co.uk

Is a new tour on the cards for Peter Kay?

Comedy legend Peter Kay has been playing a string of “top secret” stand up comedy shows at  The Lowry, Salford theatre. It has fuelled speculation that a major tour announcement may be on the cards from the Care Share superstar.

Comedy News: Peter Kay 6.10.2022

London Hughes performing in New York for the first time ever in November

John Kearns Announces 2023 Tour

Winner of Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show and Best Newcomer, four-time Chortle Award nominee and Taskmaster Series 14 star, John Kearns is set to embark on his biggest UK tour with his brand-new and fifth solo show, The Varnishing Days, kicking off with a week-long run at London’s Soho Theatre, Downstairs from 13th February.

Tickets are on sale from 10am on Friday 30th September. Full dates and tickets at johnkearnscomedy.co.uk

Stephen Grant takes up residency at Ironworks Studios

Stephen Grant announced a move to Ironworks Studios, after his long-standing relationship with Komedia  Brighton was terminated

The Forge Comedy Club at Ironworks Studios which replaces Stephen’s residency at Komedia Brighton will welcome some of the UK’s biggest acts to its weekly shows.

Stephen told The Argus, Brighton’s local paper: “I’m so proud already of what this will be. The UK’s best stand-up comedians have all said they’ll come and perform here, and the support from the industry has been breath-taking. Romesh Ranganathan, will perform at The Forge’s opening night on Saturday, 29 January.

“I have an amazing team of people who are passionate about comedy above all else.”
Comedy News

Jo Caulfield wins “COMICS COMIC BEST ACT 2021 AWARD”. She tweeted “Thank You to the comedians/promoters who voted for me & Scott Bennett for organising it. The award sits proudly beside my cycling proficiency badge & my 25 yard swimming certificate”.

LORNA ROSE TREEN

DOUBLE WINNER! STAGE + COMEDY SHORT

The runners up were Marjolein Robertson and Jessie Nixon

Due to the pandemic, Bill Bailey has made the decision to re-schedule all post-Christmas tour dates for En Route to Normal. New dates shown above. Still to rebook is Cardiff, but will let you know new date ASAP. Manchester and Nottingham still on.

Comedy news

 

Comics’ Comic Awards 2021

Sean Lock, who died in August, posthumously won the Outstanding Achievement Award. Organisers hailed him as a ‘once-in-an-era genius who inspired a generation of comics and comedy fans’.

 



Three way tie for The Circuit Comedian of the Year.
 The Circuit Comedian of the Year, voted for by fellow comics, will this year be shared between Ninia Benjamin, Jo Caulfield and Mark Nelson after the voting by their peers failed to separate them.

 

 

Stand-up comedian Jethro has died at the age of 73 after contracting Covid-19.

The news was announced on his official Facebook page, with a statement reading: ‘It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of the well known and popular Cornish comedian Jethro.

Full story here

Chloe Petts announces that prior to her 2022 debut tour her first solo run of the show, Transience, will be at London’s Soho Theatre from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th May at 9.00pm


Matt Forde announces biggest tour to date with brand new stand-up show ‘CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, JOKERS TO THE RIGHT’

Fern Brady off to Melbourne

Fern Brady booked to appear at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, one of the 3 largest comedy festivals in the world; biggest ticketed cultural event in Oz.
30 Mar – 24 Apr 2022

Stand-up comedy news from around the UK and on streamers

Liam Farrelly has won the Scottish Comedian Of The Year title.

21 year old Farrelly started performing stand-up just 4 years ago. He was previously a finalist in 2018. He was also a finalist in this year’s BBC New Comedy Awards and Beat The Frog World Series.

Rosie Jones voted Best Breakthrough act in the 2021 online I Talk Telly awards

Paul Chowdhry extends tour in 2022

Paul Chowdhry multi-award-winning stand-up comedian, actor and writer will be doubling the size of his brand-new stand-up tour, Family-Friendly Comedian (*No Children) for 2022 with 43 more dates nationwide. 

Scott Bennett has been named best act in the Midlands Comedy Awards for the third year in a row

He will be touring his show ‘Great Scott!’ throughout 2022. 

 

 

 

Sara Pascoe 50+ tour dates in 2022 and 2023

The star of BBC2 stand-up special Sara Pascoe Live: LadsLadsLads, writer/star of BBC2 sitcom Out of Her Mind, and author of Sunday Times bestseller Sex Power Money presents her biggest UK stand-up tour to date.
Tickets and info https://www.saraontour.com/

London Hughes has come a long way from secretly writing Frasier fan fiction alone in her bedroom. Between her breakout Netflix comedy special, To Catch a D*ck, her dating podcast ‘London, Actually’ and her award-winning TV performances, London the South Londoner has taken the entertainment world by storm. And now, in this sassy, brash, fearless, and funny memoir, London is ready to inspire women of all ages and races with her story – because London is absolutely the best person in the whole wide world to take you on a wild journey of self-discovery. As she herself puts it: ‘I’ve always been funny. I’ve always been cute. I’ve always been confident. I was born to do this shit.’

All her life, London longed to be a badass – an awesome bullet-proof woman who nobody could mess with. At a young age, she made sure she was ready to become a star, developing her own living-room popstar training regimen to prepare for her future life. But London also had her fair share of disastrous experiences in terms of friendships, relationships, and career choices. Each of the fiascos in London’s life has, with hindsight, proved to be a formative life lesson, and helped her grow into the fearless person she is today. You’ll definitely be grateful these setbacks happened to her and not you, but you’ll also learn that however bad things get, you can always build your self-worth, think long-term, and emerge triumphant, no matter what the world throws at you.

From birthday parties gone wrong to family drama, from wanting desperately to be famous to starting out on less-than-desirable TV shows, from navigating school bullies and boyfriends, London leaves no stone unturned in Living My Best Life, Hun. It took London some time to find her voice and her people, but now that she has, she’s mentally high-fiving her 14-year-old self every day.

Nina Conti, the quick-thinking queen of ventriloquism takes her pioneering The Dating Show0n tour in 2022

Info and tickets: http://ninaontour.com

Kiri Pritchard-McLean announced as new presenter of TV Flashbacks

The popular series delves into BBC Wales’ archives and takes a comedic look at the funniest and quirkiest television moments from the last 50 years.

The 2022 New Voice Awards

Recognising the best undiscovered creatives & the companies who do the most to support them! If you’re an up-and-coming writer, director or presenter there is a category for you. ENTER NOW: bit.ly/3xEkWlP

 

Comedians John Richardson and Lucy Beaumont have become patrons of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Husband and wife Jon and Lucy have signed up to support patients, families and staff at Sheffield Children’s and support their charity fundraising efforts!

Barry Humphries: The Man Behind The Mask UK Tour

 
Before going on to create such legendary characters as Sir Les Paterson and Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries appeared at the New Wimbledon Theatre in Lionel Bart’s ‘Oliver!’ in 1960 prior to its world premier in the West End.
 
Tour in April & May 2022 tickets on sale now: manbehindthemask.co.uk
 
 

From London Hughes comes an uplifting and raucously funny memoir to show you how to ditch the self-loathing, start the self-loving, and engage with your inner winner.

Available to pre-order
£16.99

Ashley Storie has she tested positive for Covid. We wish her a speedy recovery.

She is the award winning host of the Ashley Storrie Show on BBC Radio Scotland and the host of TV’s ‘Up For It’. She is a regular guest panellist on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking The News and BBC NI’s the Blame Game.
 She’s starred in Dinosaur a TV pilot about a woman with Autism,

Tegan Marlow wins New Act of the Year at the 2021 Notts Comedy Review Awards

 

stand-up comedy news

GLENN MOORE ANNOUNCES BIGGEST NATIONAL TOUR
Full dates and tickets at glennmoorecomedy.com

Lady Dynamite, Maria Bamford tour

Maria Bamford, star of her own Netflix series,  Lady Dynamite, has announced her first UK  tour. She performs in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London in April next year

Scott Bennet announces first tour

Scott Bennett seen on last weeks Live At The Apollo undertakes his first full tour next year. Scott says "it’s a compilation of my favourite bits"
Stand-up Comedy News

Tommy brings Tomfoolery to you in 2022.. Belfast, Dublin, Galway, Castlebar, Limerick, Derry, Wexford and plenty more TICKETS ON SALE 10am Wed 1 Dec

Tickets for Kevin Bridges new tour 'The Overdue Catch-up' pre-sale Wednesday, general sale Friday 3rd December.

Forever Funny Night at the Frog and Bucket

On Wednesday the annual Forever Funny Comedy Night at Frog and Bucket raised a fantastic £4,160! The sell-out show was an evening of fun and laughter. We want to thank everyone for showing up and supporting Forever Manchester The next fundraiser will be in March 2022.

Nick Thune is coming to the UK

Jan 6, The Bill Murray https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/bill-murray/

Jan 7, Glee Club Birmingham, https://www.glee.co.uk/birmingham/

According to IMDB: Nick Thune was born in Seattle and lived there until he was 24, when he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his comedy career. He has been getting steadily more popular over the past few years, appearing at the Laugh Factory, on Letterman and in several short comedy films. He has also had cameo appearances in several major films, including Knocked Up.

Jeff Innocent has won £10,001 after triumphing at the final of the British Comedian of the Year competition at London's Comedy Store

THE LOL WORD CO-FOUNDER CHLOE PETTS ANNOUNCES DEBUT UK TOUR FOR 2022
Full dates and tickets at chloepetts.wixsite.com/chloe-petts

COMEDIAN JONNY PELHAM ANNOUNCES DEBUT UK TOUR WITH HIS WORD-OF-MOUTH SMASH HIT SHOW ‘OFF LIMITS’
Tickets go on sale at 10am, Friday 26th November. Full dates and tickets will be available then at jonnypelham.com