comedians on tour uk 2023 london

Check out our Comedy Guide, packed with legendary stand-up comedians, local venues and social media stars. From big names to emerging talent, entertainment is at your fingertips. Find your favourite or discover something new.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Jason Manford – New dates added

Jason Manford is back with his brand-new live show, A Manford All Seasons, with new dates added for 2024 and 2025.

Presale now open

The Comedy Store

The Comedy Store brings you the best in comedy. See tomorrow’s stars today, with 2025 shows on sale now.

On sale now

LEGENDARY COMEDY

The biggest stand-up comedy coming to the biggest venues near you.

01/09 – 18/12/2024

Various venues

Secure your seats for Ben Elton’s unmissable comedy extravaganza, Authentic Stupidity!

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Katherine Ryan

05/09 – 10/05

Katherine Ryan returns with brand new UK and European tour Battleaxe, starting September 2024.

Jason Manford

12/11/2024 – 07/02/2025

Jason Manford is back with his brand-new live show. A Manford All Seasons. Jason’s been busy since his last smash-hit stand up show but fans of his Absolute Radio show will know this nationally acclaimed comedian hasn’t changed a bit. A Manford All Seasons is Jason’s latest comic offering set to hit the road, and is sure to be ‘expert observational comedy’ (The Guardian) mixed with ‘comic gold’ (Mail on Sunday).

John Bishop

09/03/2024 – 29/03/2025

John Bishop returns to venues across the country with a brand new tour Back At It – don’t miss out!

Greg Davies

29/01/2025 – 24/10/2025

Greg Davies is heading out on tour for the first time in 7 years with his brand-new 2025 stand-up show Full Fat Legend.

Michael McIntyre

06/09/2023 – 01/06/2024

Don’t miss Michael McIntyre return to the stage with his huge MACNIFICENT tour!

Milton Jones

03/09 – 15/12/2024

It’s not a musical. Join Milton Jones on a brand-new tour across the UK in Ha!milton. You know it makes sense.

Paddy McGuinness

25/10/2024 – 29/03/2025

Paddy McGuinness returns to stages with Nearly There… his first stand-up tour in eight years.

02/02 – 16/11/2024

Britain’s funniest Pub Landlord is back to put the world to rights

01/09/2023 – 13/12/2024

Ed Byrne presents Tragedy Plus Time

Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny

If you like fast-paced, edgy one-liners then get ready to be happy… one of the world’s best loved comedians, Jimmy Carr, is back on tour with a brand-new show for 2024 and 2025, Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny.

Micky Flanagan

19/04 – 01/06/2024

Following the success of his record-breaking show If Ever We Needed It, Micky Flanagan returns with new UK dates.

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Omid Djalili

06/02 – 31/05/2025

The Persian Comedy Powerhouse performs his critically acclaimed new show NAMASTE where Omid peacefully bows to his inner anger and unleashes a torrent of comedic vitriol upon the current state of this dangerously messed up planet.

01/02 – 01/12/2025

Peter Kay is back. ‘One of Bolton’s funniest comedians’ is returning to stand-up comedy after twelve years.

Rhod Gilbert

13/01/2024 – 13/11/2025

Multi-award winning comedian Rhod Gilbert brings a brand-new live tour to the stage

Romesh Ranganathan

25/01 – 08/06/2024

The incredibly funny tongue-in-cheek comedian from Crawley brings a brand new show on tour

Sarah Millican

14/11/2023 – 28/09/2024

Funny, frank and unapologetically filthy, Sarah Millican will be touring the UK with Late Bloomer.

just announced

The latest laughs and hot new tours coming to venues near you.

Eddie Izzard performs Hamlet

Kai Humphries

Tatty Macleod

Fresh comedy, guaranteed laughs

Let us compère your comedy night with a sensational selection of emerging talent. Be the first to discover new comedy.

Emmanuel Sonubi

10/04 – 02/06/2024

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Emmanuel Sonubi returns on a brand new tour

08/02 – 19/05/2024

New comedian Chris Kent takes to the stage with his Back At It tour

02/04 – 14/05/2024

Josh Baulf comes to venues across the country with new tour Josh & Friends – don’t miss out!

01/02 – 01/06/2024

Edinburgh Award-nominee Josh Pugh brings his new show Existin’ La Vida Loca to the stage

Laura Smyth

04/04 – 27/06/2024

Star of Live at the Apollo, Laura Smyth, brings a dazzling new tour to the stage

02/09/2023 – 08/06/2024

Embarking on his biggest tour to date with his brand new show, ‘Underdog’, Tom will be exploring life as the longshot.

20/09 – 24/11/2024

Tom Ward, as seen on Live at The Apollo, QI, Roast Battle and more, is bringing a brand new show to venues across the country.

26/04 – 06/12/2025

With nearly 40 years’ experience in the business and as the premier name in comedy, The Comedy Store is renowned as a breeding ground for new comedy talent, and remains the place to see tomorrow’s stars today.

Alasdair Beckett King

27/03/2024 – 24/05/2024

Out of the swirling maelstrom he steps, his sword of jokes, his shield of whimsy and his armour made of a third amusing thing. Cursed to return on tour. Multi award-winning stand-up Alasdair Beckett-King unravels life’s shallowest mysteries. A true Renaissance man, Alasdair is 500 years old. As seen on Mock the Week and the internet.

Recommended 14+

17/05 – 08/06/2024

Aurie Styla

01/02 – 04/05/2024

Various Venues

Award-winning comedian Aurie Styla is set to return to the UK with The Aurator Tour!

Big Deal Comedy

21/09/2023 – 03/10/2024

Big Deal Comedy, voted Comedy Club of the year 2023, is known for showcasing the best comedians from across the UK – coming to various venues near you

Comedy In Your Eye

Multiple dates

Enjoy fast paced funnies, with a new, top secret lineup of amazing comics at Comedy In Your Eye in Camden

Daniel O’Reilly

09/02 – 25/05/2024

Daniel O’Reilly is still boasting one of the largest, strongest, most loyal and fastest growing social media followings in the UK that his fans has grown up with him through the years!

Eshaan Akbar

07/02 – 06/04/2025

Eshaan Akbar is back doing jokes on tour! Catch him at a venue near you.

Grace Campbell

16/10 – 24/11/2024

In her brand new show the unwaveringly honest comedian will ask big questions about the world, her vagina, and her obsession with making her dog her entire brand.

John Kearns

03/02/2024 – 17/05/2024

John Kearns returns to the stage with new tour The Varnishing Days

Just the Tonic

Just the Tonic Comedy Club raids the address book from a 26-year period of producing comedy and pulls in some favours from some of the biggest names in the industry.

10/10 – 03/11

Kai Humphries brings his new show Gallivanting to stages across the UK.

Lloyd Griffith

01/03 – 18/05/2024

Lloyd returns with a brand new show Baroque and Roll

26/09 – 26/10/2024

The stand-up comedian brings his new show Matt Bragg Has Nothing Wrong with Him to venues across the UK

Michelle Brasier

14/05 – 06/06/2024

After a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, Michelle Brasier (Aunty Donna, Double Denim) returns with her critically acclaimed show, Reform.

Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0

01/05/2024 – 02/06/2024

Following a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe and a sell-out UK tour, Nurse Georgie Carroll brings her hit show Sista Flo 2.0 back to the UK.

Pierre Novellie

09/10 – 10/11/2024

Pierre Novellie is known for his award-winning comedy/observations as seen on The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio, the hit podcast BudPod with Phil Wang and The Now Show on Radio 4.

He can’t stress enough that he thinks these thoughts are normal and reasonable – it’s you people that don’t make sense. He is the normal one, definitely, but that does raise an important question:

Why are you laughing?

Schalk Bezuidenhout: Keeping Up

02/10/2024 – 28/10/2024

As seen on Netflix and Comedy Central, and fresh from supporting Trevor Noah on his arena tour.

01/11/2024 – 29/11/2024

Hot off the back of a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run Tatty Macleod is bringing her certain je ne sais quoi to the stage with her debut hour of comedy: FUGUE

The Queer Comedy Club

The Queer Comedy Club is the UK’s first LGBTQ+ comedy club specialising in stand up comedy for queer audiences and showcasing the very best LGBTQ+ comedians and allies.

Tom Houghton

01/02 – 12/05/2024

Social media sensation Tom Houghton brings his new tour It’s Not Ideal to venues across the country

26/09 – 28/09/2024

Join bestselling author and global internet sensation Tova Leigh on a new UK tour

Urzila Carlson

15/10 – 02/11/2024

The South African-born New Zealand comedian and actress Urzila Carlson comes to the UK

Coming Soon

Unmissable talent going on tour soon.

16/06 – 23/06/2024

The American boundary-pushing comedian brings The Eric Andre Show Live Tour to the UK this May.

Fawlty Towers

Apollo Theatre

Nearly 50 years since it first hit our TV screens, the ‘Greatest British sitcom of all time’ (Radio Times) is now a brand-new stage play, adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.

Prices from £20

19/04 – 16/05/2024

After dismantling a barge, doxxing himself in the Doubletree, and blanking on the 1992 Ipswich Town crest (Taskmaster, Off Menu, University Challenge), comedian Ivo Graham ropes his audience into more chaos against the clock.

JaackMaate’s Happy Hour Live

10/05 – 23/05/2024

JaackMaate’s Happy Hour Podcast is back on the road with a yet another stage show nobody asked for.

The O2, London

Jo’s uniquely relatable comedy pulls inspiration from his colourful family that has reached all kinds of people and has translated into sold-out arenas around the world.

Julian Clary

12/04 – 14/06/2024

Julian Clary embarks on a new 2024 UK tour – A Fistful of Clary

12/05 – 10/11/2024

Fresh on the heels of his critically acclaimed memoir, Montana’s transatlantic messenger returns with new rants, knife-edge observations, thrilling musical interludes and an ever-formidable knack for laughs on the fly.

Richard Herring: Can I Have My Ball Back?

08/05/2024 – 16/07/2024

In 2021 Richard Herring went to his GP to find out why his right ball seemed to be growing bigger. It turned out that he had testicular cancer and one month later he was lying in hospital waiting to have his murderous gonad removed.

In his return to stand-up after six years, Richard talks bollocks and answers the question on everyone’s lips: Is a severed gonad in a jar a fitting prize to bring in for Taskmaster?

Russell Kane

Russell Kane is back with a brand new tour next year that is guaranteed to be packed full of his signature high-energy and turbo can-do attitude.

Seann Walsh

17/05 – 30/05/2024

09/02 – 08/06/2024

Tom Allen is back on the road with his brand new show Completely.

Tommy Tiernan

Tommy Tiernan’s brand new show ‘tommedian’ is a fun fuelled trip through the comic imagination of one of the best comedians in the world.

This is a wild, uninhibited and fiercely physical display of stand up. A madcap parade of characters, memories and ridiculous flights of fancy. Theatrical, poetical and slightly unhinged…don’t you dare miss it!

Prices from £30.60

Looking for entertainment this summer? Browse big UK festivals with even bigger comedy line-ups!

Barclaycard Presents Latitude

Brighton Comedy Garden

Cambridge Comedy Garden

Screen sensations.

Watch them on TV? Listen to them on a podcast? Like them on TikTok? Find the latest social media sensation on tour.

Chris McCausland

19/01 – 13/12/2024

Sharp-edged stand-up Chris McCausland returns with a brand-new show for 2024!

04/02 – 29/06/2024

Ed Gamble has minced a load of meat (thoughts), piped it into a casing (show) and it’s coming to a bun (venue) near you. Don’t miss Hot Diggity Dog!

Lou Sanders

25/03/2025 – 26/03/2025

A show about being human – can you relate???

Just like Tom Cruise does all his own stunts, I’m going to do all my own jokes!

A deep, dumb show for the masses.

Mo Gilligan

03/11 – 30/11/2024

Don’t miss out on Mo Gilligan’s In The Moment 2024 world tour, which extended in the UK due to popular demand.

Rob Beckett

19/11 – 21/02/2026

Yes! Bobby Beckles is back on tour. Smashing the life out of the M25, M1, M5 and any other road that’s in his way.

Kevin Bloody Wilson

17/10 – 21/11/2024

2024 marks 40 years since Kev’s first album was released. INTERNATIONAL DILLIGAF DAY is every day! Celebrate with a brand new tour from Kevin Bloody Wilson.

Maisie Adam

17/09 – 07/11/2024

Fresh from Live At The Apollo, A League Of Their Own and Have I Got News For You, Maisie Adam is heading back out on tour with a brand new show.

03/09 – 20/09/2024

Wildly popular comedian and actor Matt Rife announced his ProbleMATTic World Tour hitting cities across North America, Australia, and Europe throughout 2023 and 2024

Only Fools and Horses The Musical

17/12/2024 – 05/01/2025

Eventim Apollo

The smash-hit West End musical Only Fools and Horses returns to London for a limited festive season at the Eventim Apollo, before embarking on a HUGE UK tour!

COMEDY CLUBS

Find the latest laughs and discover brand new talent at comedy clubs near you!

Big Belly Comedy Club

Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Explore all comedy.

All the best comedy tours and shows on offer right now

Clinton Baptiste

29/03 – 09/11/2024

Clinton Baptiste brings his brand new tour Roller Ghoster! to venues across the UK

Jenny Eclair

05/10/2024 – 23/03/2025

Jenny Eclair comes to venues nationwide with a brand-new autobiographical show, ‘Jokes, Jokes, Jokes, Live’.

21/06/2024 – 23/11/2024

Paul Smith is back and better than ever with his latest tour show, “Pablo”.

20/09/2024 – 21/03/2025

It’s a risky business navigating the tightrope of today’s times but Tom’s approaching it with his usual gusto. Without risk there is no reward.

“Stand up elite” – Chortle

11/04 – 31/10/2024

A comedy club in the heart of London with live comedy 7 days a week.

03/07/2024 – 07/07/2024

Preston Park, Brighton

Brighton Comedy Garden returns to Preston Park for five nights of laughs and street food. See the likes of Dara Ó Briain, Sara Pascoe, Phil Wang, Sindhu Vee, Maisie Adams, Harry Hill and more take to the stage.

17/07 – 21/07/2024

Parker’s Piece

The all-new Cambridge Comedy Garden lands in Parker’s Piece this July with five nights of all-star stand-up live in the Big Top plus craft beer, street eats and more.

Count Arthur Strong

See Count Arthur Strong in ‘And It’s Goodnight From Him!’, part one of his farewell tour of the world!

Dr. Strangelove

08/10 – 21/12/2024

Noël Coward Theatre

Seven-time BAFTA Award winner Steve Coogan stars in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic Dr. Strangelove.

Prices from £30

Garth Marenghi

28/10 – 31/10

Garth Marenghi returns to stages with his INCARCERAT book tour

Hannah Gadsby

04/11 – 05/11

The London Palladium

Internationally acclaimed Australian stand-up comedian heads to The London Palladium this Nov for two shows

Jason Byrne

03/10 – 30/11/2024

Jason Byrne returns to the stage with brand new tour No Show

11/10/2023 – 03/11/2024

An hilarious evening of world-class stand-up from live comedy’s internationally acclaimed Irish master!

08/09/2024 – 27/03/2025

Larry has been spending a lot of time with his grandmother lately, and he wants to tell you about it.

Join the thrice Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated, two-time star of Live At The Apollo for a hilarious new show about identity, heroes and the benefits of being a dafty.

18/03 – 31/12/2024

See the best in live stand-up with comedians from such shows as BBC2’s Mock The Week, Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats, BBC1’s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

03/03 – 18/12/2024

Duchess Theatre, London

Comedian Matt Forde (Spitting Image, Have I Got News For You, The Royal Variety Performance, Mock the Week and Question Time) brings his hugely successful The Political Party to London’s West End

The Horne Section

14/03 – 21/11/2024

“Britain’s Funniest Band” (The Guardian) have made appearances on The Last Leg (Channel 4), Peter Crouch’s Year- Late Euros (BBC One), and are the only band to ever host Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

Latest news

All the latest news, interviews and features from the comedy scene.

Tom Houghton loves a really good knot

Garth Marenghi has made up his own theme tune

Adam Kay wants to apologise to anyone who stood near him at the Pulp gig

Discover more: comedy guide.

Ticketmaster’s Comedy Guide is your complete guide to the best comedy shows and all kinds of funny stuff ranging from comedy festivals, stand up comedy, comedy concerts to theatrical productions. We’ve got loads of information – including announcements, exclusive interviews and reviews – to keep you up to date about all the comedians on tour in 2024 & 2025. From Edinburgh Festival Fringe to world-class favourites, our guide includes everyone from award-winning sell-out tours to up and coming performers. So whether you’re looking to find out what’s happening this week, this year or even next year, our guide will have you laughing in theatres and venues across the UK.

Whether you’re interested in top comedians or emerging stand up comedy, whether you’re looking in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or other cities across the UK… here’s where you’ll find comedy tickets for all the comedic entertainment you need so you can be there to laugh out loud.

Looking beyond comedy for your summer festival fix? Whether you’re into indie, rock, electronic or pop music, there’s a festival out there for you.

2024 is set to be a bumper year for comedy tours of all sizes. Top-class stand-up comics are touring the UK throughout the year, and well into 2025. If you’re looking  for tickets to attend a comedy show or stand up comedy gig near you, there are loads to choose from. Watch established stand up comedians and their razor-sharp wit, or get tickets to an up and coming performer.

Our Comedy Guide features a Coming Soon section, listing all the comedians who are currently touring or embarking on a tour within the next month. Right now, you can catch the following line-up of comedians:

• Al Murray with The Pub Landlord tour
• Bill Bailey with his Thoughtifier tour
• Daniel Sloss with his Can’t tour
• Ed Gamble with his Hot Diggity Dog tour
• Frank Skinner with his 30 Years of Dirt tour
• Romesh Ranganathan with his Hustle tour

In addition to seeing comics perform at comedy clubs and in arenas, you can also experience big laughs in the West End and at other theatres around the country. Edinburgh Festival Fringe has a rich line up of side-splitting talent that’s not to be missed each August.

You can look forward to a lot of comedy superstars hitting the road in 2024 and 2025 as they perform for audiences. In the “Coming soon” section of our Comedy Guide we tell you all about the comedy tours and stand up shows due to launch and head your way in the next six months.

The UK is home to several great comedy clubs. Enjoy stand-up shows, improv, storytelling, sketches, open mics and much more at The Comedy Store which has over 40 years in the business to its name. For a funny night out, visit their two permanent UK homes:  The Comedy Store London  and  The Comedy Store Manchester .

A night of comedy makes a great gift idea for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas or really any occasion! Buying tickets to a comedy tour – or a Ticketmaster gift card if you’re unsure of the right comedian – are perfect to give anyone you know who likes a belly laugh.

For more event ideas in London, view our  London Guide.  For ideas for events outside of London and across the UK, not just stand up comedy, check out our City Guides and Days Out guides.

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Get ready to laugh out loud! We’re counting down some of the biggest comedy tours to head to in 2023.

This year the much-loved British comedian and national treasure finally confirmed his return to stand-up after a 12-year hiatus.

Bolton’s finest has already kicked off his hugely anticipated ‘ Better Late Than Never ’ tour, with a massive run of shows scheduled throughout 2022-2025, including an historic residency at The O2 in London.

Remaining tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster   AXS   The Ticket Factory   See Tickets

Ricky Gervais

The award-winning comedian and creator/star of The Office (UK), An Idiot Abroad, and Netflix series After Life, is heading back out on the road in 2023.

Following his hugely successful 2021 ‘SuperNature’ Tour, followed by a string of work-in-progress shows this year, he has now confirmed the ‘Armageddon’ Tour for next year, with a bunch of extra dates just added due to demand.

Remaining tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster

The American comedian and actor will bring his ‘Reality Check’ Tour to the UK in 2023.

The stand-up tour will be his first in four years after recently focusing on his film and TV career, which has seen him star in Central Intelligence and the Jumanji franchise alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Remaining tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster AXS The Ticket Factory

Mo Gilligan + Friends

The triple BAFTA winner and one of the UK’s biggest comedy stars has confirmed that he will be hitting the road once again in 2023 with his ‘The Black British Takeover Tour’.

The comedian will be joined by a host of headline acts for the run of shows, which will kick-off in the autumn.

Remaining tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster AXS

Sarah Millican

After recently finishing up her ‘Bobby Dazzler’ UK tour, the comedian has announced her brand-new show ‘Late Bloomer’. Featuring over 100 dates, the extensive run of shows will kick-off in September 2023 and run all the way through to October 2024.

Remaining tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster ATG Tickets See Tickets

Frankie Boyle

The Scottish comedian has announced the ‘Lap Of Shame’ Tour for 2023.

As well as embarking on numerous successful tours of the years, he has released a series of stand-up specials including ‘Frankie Boyle’s Autopsy’, ‘Frankie Goes to Russia’ and ‘Frankie Boyle’s Tramadol Nights’ as well as appeared on various popular panel shows such as ‘Mock the Week’ , ‘8 out of 10 Cats’ and ‘Have I Got News For You’.

Remaining tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster ATG Tickets

Another comedy highlight heading to the UK from across the pond next year is Tom Segura’s ‘I’m Coming Everywhere’ Tour.

The American stand-up is best known for his Netflix specials and co-host of ‘Your Mom’s House’ podcast alongside his wife and fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky.

The comedian will hit the road with his ‘Jibber Jabber Jamboree’ Tour in October 2023 through to March 2024.

The new run of shows will follow his hugely successful previous ‘Humournoid’ Tour as well as mark his 21st solo stand-up tour to date.

Other notable comedy tours to look out for next year include Russell Howard , Tom Allen , Maisie Adam and Russell Kane . Munya Chawawa will also embark on his much-anticipated debut headline tour, with Seann Walsh and Babatunde Aleshe both hitting the road fresh from the I’m A Celeb jungle.

Looking even further ahead and following a sell-out tour in 2022, Romesh Ranganathan is set to return with a brand-new show examining the human condition in 2024.

Snap up tickets for these and more comedy shows next year on sale now from Ticketmaster See Tickets

Makes history as youngest two-time Oscar winner.

Announced as ambassador of Record Store Day UK 2024.

Makes history as most nominated artist in the same year at BRIT Awards 2024.

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Comedy Concerts in London

Find tickets to all live music, concerts, tour dates and festivals in and around London.

Currently there are 308 upcoming events.

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308 upcoming concerts

• Tuesday 30 April 2024

Tommy Tiernan

Eventim Apollo , London, UK

• Wednesday 01 May 2024

mark dolan, Sindhu Vee, Rhys James, Nick Helm, Simon Evans, Arthur Smith, Matt Richardson, Adam Buxton, and Tania Edwards

Bloomsbury Theatre , London, UK

Kae Kurd and Sindhu Vee

Up The Creek , London, UK

• Thursday 02 May 2024

Jeffrey Silverstein, Bobby Lee, and Joe Harvey-Whyte

Paper Dress Vintage , London, UK

Peckham Levels , Peckham, UK

London Palladium , London, UK

• Friday 03 May 2024

Junior Brother, John Francis Flynn, James Fearnley, Jem Finer, Sean Fitzgerald, The New Eves, Gary Powell, Brigid Mae Power, Jim Sclavunos, Nadine Shah, Stick In The Wheel, Kami Thompson, George Vjestica, James Walbourne, and Iona Zajac

Hackney Empire , London, UK

The O2 , London, UK

Emmanuel Sonubi

The Curve Slough , Slough, UK

• Saturday 04 May 2024

Brave Rival and Ashley Sherlock Band

Half Moon, Putney , Putney, UK

• Sunday 05 May 2024

John Francis Flynn and Junior Brother

Moth Club , London, UK

Dugdale Arts Centre , London, UK

Sunday Special and Tom Ward

• Wednesday 08 May 2024

James O'brien

Emmanuel Centre , London, UK

• Thursday 09 May 2024

Mujeres FEZ (London)

The Victoria, Dalston , London, UK

Rhod Gilbert

G Live Guildford , Guildford, UK

• Friday 10 May 2024

Oliver Koletzki

Village Underground , London, UK

Mujeres, KickBoy, and Mapache

Michael McIntyre

OVO Arena , London, UK

Indigo at The O2 , London, UK

Beck Theatre , Hayes, UK

• Saturday 11 May 2024

When Rivers Meet

The Garage , London, UK

Lit Clapham , Clapham, UK

Harriet Kemsley and Daniel Kitson

Union Chapel , London, UK

Oral Habit, The Daffodils, and Chad

The Old Blue Last , London, UK

• Sunday 12 May 2024

Bethnal Green.

Backyard Comedy Club at Bethnal Green , London, UK

• Tuesday 14 May 2024

Billy Walton Band, Virgil and the Accelerators, and Snowboy

The Forge , Camden, UK

Fatiha El-Ghorri

The Angelic , London, UK

• Wednesday 15 May 2024

The Grantley Arms , Guildford, UK

• Thursday 16 May 2024

Luke Hemmings and NewDad

O2 Shepherds Bush Empire , London, UK

Conway Hall , London, UK

Alexandra Palace Theatre , London, UK

• Friday 17 May 2024

Troxy , London, UK

Flo & Joan and Rob Auton

The Mct at Alleyn's , London, UK

Deptford Northern Soul Club

Sarah Keyworth

Bush Hall , London, UK

Mississippi MacDonald

Mycenae House , London, UK

Orchard West , Dartford, UK

Laura Smyth

Bellerby Studio , Guildford, UK

Mark Watson

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre , Guildford, UK

• Saturday 18 May 2024

Julian Clary

Clapham Grand , London, UK

• Sunday 19 May 2024

Nigel Price, Vasilis Xenopoulos, Dave Green, and Steve Brown

Imber Court , Hampton Court, UK

• Monday 20 May 2024

Major Entertainer

The Bill Murray , London, UK

• Tuesday 21 May 2024

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Gabriel Iglesias

• Date 6 Oct 2023
• Venue The O2 arena
• Availability On sale now

Event Details

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias brings his new live show to London The O2 on 6 October 2023.  He is one of America's most successful stand-up comedians performing to sold-out concerts around the world. He is also one of the most watched comedians on YouTube with almost a billion views and has over 25 million fans across social media.

Gabriel’s stand-up comedy is a mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects that bring his personal experiences to life. His unique and animated comedy style has made him popular among fans of all ages.

He is the star and executive producer of Mr. Iglesias, the multi-cam, Netflix original comedy series, and plays a good-natured public high school teacher.  He also released on Netflix his stand-up comedy specials: One Show Fits All and Stadium Fluffy.

Feature film credits include co-starring roles in Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL and A Haunted House 2. Gabriel’s voice has been heard in many animated films including Space Jam: A New Legacy as “Speedy Gonzales”. Iglesias voiced the role of “Head Clerk” in Pixar’s Academy Award nominated animated film Coco. He also voiced “Babo” in Ugly Dolls, “Rufus the Dog” in Sony’s Golden Globe nominated animated holiday film The Star and “Cuatro” in Fox 20th Century Film’s Academy Award nominated animated film Ferdinand. Gabriel is one of a handful of comedians with a theatrically released stand-up concert comedy film, The Fluffy Movie.

Important Information - How to download your tickets on The O2 app

For this show, if you’ve purchased your tickets from theo2.co.uk or AXS.com you’ll need to display your ticket on your phone via The O2 app. Ticket purchasers will receive an email with news and information on  AXS Mobile ID tickets  and how you can download your tickets to your phone. 

If you’ve bought your tickets for this show via AXS then you can re-sell your tickets with AXS Official Resale   which gives you a safe, simple, and fair way to buy and sell tickets.

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Upcoming events.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Romesh Ranganathan

Hustle 2024 tour.

THE BIGGEST YOU'VE EVER HAD

Dude Perfect

Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny

The London Comedy Tour

Probably London’s Funniest Tour!

Guided by a comedian, this is a unique walk through london's vibrant soho and west end as you are taken on a fun and laughter-filled journey through the history of comedy and its many genres and performers..

You will see venues such as The London Palladium, The Hippodrome as well as modern-day comedy clubs. You will be regaled by stories about, and jokes of, the many world-famous comedians that have performed there.

"If I was still alive and in London, I would absolutely love this Tour. Toodle Pip." Robin Williams. "It’s true that Monty Python used to plan our films in Neals Yard. However, we cannot endorse The London Comedy Tour in any way and will sue if anyone says anything funny at all." Michael Palin. "For the last time, I am not one of the Marx Brothers. I am the Father of Marxism." Karl Marx.

Book you place at one of our upcoming london comedy tours.

We have plenty of dates available for you to pick from and would love to see you there. We know you will love it!

Why choose us?

The Tour is the brainchild of JJ Hazan, who is an experienced Comic, both on-line and live. He has teamed up with the expert London Premier Walking Tours ( http://www.londonpremierwalkingtours.co.uk/ ) to ensure the best possible experience for all. This combination is just like Morecombe & Wise or Laurel & Hardy but not nearly as funny. See - self-deprecating humour already!

Many famous comedy performers and writers are covered:  such as Bob Hope, Mr Bean, Joe Lycett, Ken Dodd, Jimmy Carr, Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig, Peter Cook, Ricky Gervais, Joan Rivers, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy and even William Shakespeare.

Whether it's Slapstick, Music Hall, Observational, Satirical, Alternative, TV Sitcom or Stand Up comedy that makes you laugh, there is sure to be something that tickles your fancy.

Your expert guide will also run a Comedy Quiz, plus a chance, if you wish, for you to tell your own joke at the end of the tour. There may even be a prize or 2!

What's included in the Comedy Tour?

A 2 hour walk through the history of comedy, covering its many genres

Guided by a stand-up comedian who will impart their knowledge of comedy and make you laugh and learn at the same time

Learn about many genres of comedy and ‘meet ‘ many great comedic performers and writers who have performed in London

See famous historical and current comedy sites, plus statues and commemorative plaques of comedy performers

What happens on the day?

On the day of your tour, you will meet your Comedy Tour Guide outside Oxford Circus underground station in Argyll Street. You’ll be able to spot them by the London Comedy Tour sign that they’ll be holding – and then set out on your tour which lasts approximately 2 hours.

As you move through Argyll Street, Carnaby Street, Soho and Leicester Square you’ll learn all about the history of comedy and its many genres whilst being entertained by your comedian host. The tour finishes in Leicester Square, close to Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus Embankment and Charing Cross stations.  

Availability

This experience launches on Saturday March 5th 2023 from 3 pm until 5 pm and takes place on selected Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout 2023.

We recommend you book at least one week in advance to ensure that dates are available.  

Some dates will be available at short notice. Booking is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-london-comedy-tour-tickets-551744882797

Please allow approximately 2 hours for the whole experience. Above all, Bring a Smile!  

The best thing about London Comedy is we love to laugh at ourselves!

Embarrassing moments, awkward encounters and clumsiness are all considered funny..

In London (and then UK) you can’t take yourself too seriously. We love to laugh at our own flaws and make light of our failures. It’s this self-deprecating humour that makes us seem more approachable, humble and relatable. 

Participant guidelines

Minimum age: 12 (under 16s need to be accompanied by a paying adult, parent or guardian) the tour is unfortunately not suitable for those with mobility difficulties..

The experience content may vary from tour to tour.

You’ll get more than just a laugh!

There's whole city to explore.

With so many sites and attractions to pass as we make our way through the tour, there will be plenty of London’s eye-catching scenery to see on the tour too. So whilst filling your boots with plenty of laughter, don’t forget to take out your phones and take pictures of your friends and family members in front of some amazing picturesque backgrounds.

If you want more information or to discuss a group booking, please email us at [email protected]

Why did we decide to launch London’s History of Comedy Walk & Tour?

Basically, because there isn't one (!) and Soho offers such a rich history and depth of Comedy. We will also strive to make the Tour as interactive as possible and include you, the group (or audience!) as much as possible. WSell even hello you make your best joke funnier!

History of London comedy

British comedy has had its own query identity and charm for centuries. shakespeare incorporated many chase scenes and beatings into his comedies, such as in his play the comedy of errors. .

The quarrelsome couple Punch and Judy made their first recorded appearance in Britain in 1662, when Samuel Pepys noted a “pretty” puppet play being performed in Covent Garden, London. The various episodes of Punch and Judy are performed in the spirit of outrageous comedy — often provoking shocked laughter — and are dominated by the anarchic clowning of Mr. Punch.

In early 19th century England, pantomime acquired its present form, which includes slapstick comedy and featured the first mainstream clown - Joseph Grimaldi.

Comedians who honed their skills at pantomime and music halls across London include Bob Hope, Mr Bean, Joe Lycett, Ken Dodd, Jimmy Carr, Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig, Peter Cook, Charlie Chaplin, Ricky Gervais, Joan Rivers, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy and even William Shakespeare.

The UK is primarily known for satire and has had many fine examples on both TV and stage. From the 1960’s to Spitting Image and modern day comics, satire is used to criticise those in power, especially Governments and Fat cats. Freedom of speech is used to an extreme within Comedy and in dark times, may be the only form of protest that actually has any effect.

Interestingly, in Poland, the saying "British humour" means "not funny." But us Brits are proud of our humour. Its unique mixture of surrealism, satire and just plain silliness is one of things that define the British character. 

Most cities have a particular sense of humour, finding some things much funnier than their neighbours and that is certainly the case with London. We love a sense of irony and enjoyment of sarcasm – often known as ‘banter’ and is a common and often hard-to-interpret trait.

With London having their own unique stamp on comedy that is simply hilarious, and with us being the only London Comedy Tour in town, surely that makes us London’s Funniest Tour!

© Copyright. All rights reserved.

British comedy in 2023

All new tv comedy from 2023.

• 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown
• Agatha Raisin
• Age Of Outrage
• Ahir Shah: Dots
• Alan Carr: Regional Trinket
• Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
• Alan Partridge - Stratagem
• The Alasdair Beckett-King Mysteries
• Alison And Larry: Billericay To Barry
• All's Well That Ends Well
• Andrew Mensah's Stand-Up Kickabout
• Arena: Caroline Aherne: Queen Of Comedy
• Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned Live From London's West End
• Bad Education
• Barry Humphries At The BBC
• Barry Humphries: The Last Laugh
• BBC New Comedy Awards
• Ben Elton Live
• A Better Place
• The Big Fat Quiz Of Everything
• The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year
• Big Zuu's Big Eats
• Billy Connolly Does...
• Blackadder: A Cunning Story
• Blackadder: The Lost Pilot
• Blankety Blank
• Bradley Walsh's Comedy Legends
• Breaking The News
• Britain's Favourite 70s Sitcoms
• A Brush With Comedy
• Calamity James
• CelebAbility
• Changing Ends
• Chris McCausland Live: Speaky Blinder
• The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show
• Classic Movies: The Story Of The Ladykillers
• The Cleaner
• Comedy Classics: Birds Of A Feather
• Comedy Classics: Fawlty Towers
• Comedy Classics: Keeping Up Appearances
• Comedy Classics: Open All Hours
• Comedy Classics: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
• The Comedy Roast For SU2C
• Comic Relief
• Count Abdulla
• Dad's Army: The Animations
• Danny & Mick
• Dara O Briain: So, Where Were We?
• David Baddiel: Too Much Information
• Dawn French Is A Huge Twat
• Deep Fake Neighbour Wars
• Diane From Accounts
• Dirty Water
• Dispatches: Russell Brand: In Plain Sight
• Dreaming Whilst Black
• Edinburgh Unlocked
• The Effects Of Lying
• Everyone Else Burns
• Everything Now
• Evil Genius With Russell Kane
• Extraordinary
• The Family Pile
• Fantasy Football League
• The Football's On
• For The Love Of Paul O'Grady
• Frankie Boyle's Farewell To The Monarchy
• The Full Monty
• Funny Woman
• The Graham Norton Show
• Grandfather Rights
• Gregg Wallace: The British Miracle Meat
• Gyles Brandreth Remembers... Hinge & Bracket
• Harry Hill Live: Sausage Time
• Have I Got News For You
• The Heist Before Christmas
• Henpocalypse!
• Hold The Front Page
• Horrible Histories
• Hullraisers
• I Literally Just Told You
• Imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter
• Inside No. 9
• Intelligence
• Jack Dee: Live At The Apollo
• Jack Whitehall Gets Around Live From Wembley Arena
• Janey + Ashley Get A Real Job
• Jason Byrne: Audience Precipitation
• Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words
• The John Bishop Show
• The Jonathan Ross Show
• Jon & Lucy's Odd Couples
• Justin's House
• Lady Bigfoot
• Larry Dean: Fandan
• The Last Leg
• The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan
• Late Night Lycett
• A League Of Their Own
• Lenny Henry: One Of A Kind
• Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!
• Live At The Apollo
• Live At The Queer Comedy Club
• Lloyd Of The Flies
• Man About The House: 50 Years Of Laughter
• Man Like Mobeen
• Max Boyce At 80
• Meet The Richardsons
• Michael Barrymore: The Rise And Fall Of Mr Saturday Night
• Michael Crawford And Michele Dotrice Remember... Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
• Michael McIntyre's Big Show
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Mike Yarwood At The BBC
• Mike Yarwood: Thank You For The Laughs
• More, More, More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett?
• Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
• Mrs. Brown's Boys
• Murder, They Hope
• The National Comedy Awards
• Never Mind The Buzzcocks
• Nish Kumar: Your Power, Your Control
• Not Going Out
• One Foot In The Grave: 30 Years Of Laughs
• Only Fools And Horses: Greatest Christmas Moments
• Painting Birds With Jim And Nancy Moir
• Past Caring
• Paul Black: Nostalgia
• Peter Sellers: Genius At Work
• Pobl Bachyn
• The Power Of Parker
• Queen Of Oz
• Queen Of The New Year
• Real Friends
• Rhod Gilbert: A Pain In The Neck For SU2C
• Rhod Gilbert's Growing Pains
• Rhod Gilbert: The Book Of John
• Ricky Gervais: Armageddon
• Ricky Tomlinson Remembers... The Royle Family
• Rob And Romesh Vs
• Rod Woodward: Live In Wales
• Romantic Getaway
• Ronnie Corbett's 30 Greatest Moments
• Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza
• Royle Exclusive: Behind The Sofa
• The Rubbish World Of Dave Spud
• Ruby Speaking
• Scotland Stands Up
• Secrets & Scandals Of Carry On
• Sex Education
• Shopping With Keith Lemon
• Short Stuff
• Significant Other
• Six Foot Something
• The Skewer: Three Twisted Years
• So Awkward Kids Camp
• Sorry, I Didn't Know
• Sport's Funniest 2023 With Greg James
• The Stand Up Sketch Show
• Stath Lets Flats
• Such Brave Girls
• Susie McCabe: Femme Fatality
• Then You Run
• There She Goes
• This Is Gay
• Tony Hancock: Very Nearly An Armful
• TV Flashback
• Twelfth Night From Shakespeare's Globe
• Two Doors Down
• The Unofficial Science Of...
• Where It Ends
• A Whole Lifetime With Jamie Demetriou
• The Windsors
• Wonders Of The World I Can't See
• Would I Lie To You?

All new radio comedy from 2023

• Alfie Moore: It's A Fair Cop
• Amber Jolt: Truth Hunter
• Annie Nightingale's Age Of Irreverence
• Anything But Coldplay
• Archive On 4: 20 Years Of Funny Women
• Ashley Blaker: 6.5 Children
• The Balsall Heath Bohemians
• BBC New Comedy Award
• Bedroom Farce
• Behind Beyond The Fringe
• Best Medicine
• Bob Servant Says Cheerio
• Bravo Two Charlies
• Call Jonathan Pie
• Carbon Lifeforms
• Catherine Bohart - TL;DR
• Chortle Student Comedy Award
• Comedy Club At Machynlleth
• The Confessional
• Conversations From A Long Marriage
• Daliso Chaponda: Citizen Of Nowhere
• Damien Slash: Select All
• Dead Ringers
• Delightful Sausage: Big Little Questions
• DMs Are Open
• Dom Joly Breaks The News
• Eat And Run
• Ed Reardon's Week
• Ellie Taylor's Safe Space
• The Exploding Library
• Fighting Talk
• First Folio
• Fresh From The Fringe
• Funny Women Awards
• The Garden Centre
• Glenn Moore's Almanac
• Good Morning, Yvette's Nan
• The Good, The Bad And The Unexpected
• The Goon Show
• Great Lives - Hattie Jacques
• Gret And Will
• HashtagPublicEnemy
• Henry Normal
• Horrible Histories: 'Orrible Opera
• How I Ruined Medicine
• I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue
• The Infinite Monkey Cage
• Influencers
• Jamie MacDonald: Life On The Blink
• Janey Godley: The C Bomb
• Janey Takes Off
• Jessica Fostekew: Sturdy Girls Club
• John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme
• Just A Minute
• Kafka's Dick
• Ken Cheng: I Can School You
• Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say
• Lemn Sissay Is The One And Only
• Lucy Porter's Lucky Dip
• The Machynlleth Comedy Festival
• Maisie Adam: The Beautiful Game
• Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life
• Meet David Sedaris
• Michael Spicer: Before Next Door
• The Ministry Of Happiness
• The Museum Of Curiosity
• My Mate's A Footballer
• My Teenage Diary
• The Naked Week
• Natalie Haynes Stands Up For The Classics
• Nature Table
• The Newsmakers
• The News Quiz
• Nick Revell: BrokenDreamCatcher
• Nightmare(ish)
• Njambi McGrath - Black Black
• Nora Meadows' Week Of Wellness
• The Now Show
• Now You're Asking With Marian Keyes And Tara Flynn
• Olga Koch: OK Computer
• Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz
• Please Use Other Door
• Radio 2 Remembers Barry Humphries
• Radio 2 Remembers Paul O'Grady
• The Reunion: Spitting Image
• Robin Ince's Reality Tunnel
• Sarah Keyworth - Are You A Boy Or A Girl?
• Scott Bennett: Stuff
• Screenshot: Double Acts
• Screenshot: Latitude Festival 2023
• The Seagull
• She Stoops To Conquer
• Shticks And Stones: Jewish Comedy And Antisemitism
• A Single Act
• Stand Up Just William
• Suggs: Love Letters To London
• Tess Of The Tollbooth
• This Cultural Life: Stephen Fry
• Tinsel Girl
• The Tools Are On The Bar: Max Boyce At 80
• Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy'd
• Twelfth Night
• The Ultimate Choice
• The Unbelievable Truth
• The United Nations Of News
• Unsafe Space
• The Victoria Wood Songbook
• The Voice In My Ear
• Wasps In A Jam Jar
• We Forced A Bot To Write This Show
• Welcome To The Neighbourhood
• What Are You Talking About?
• Whatever Happened To Baby Jane Austen?
• What Just Happened?
• What's Funny About...
• What's The Story, Ashley Storrie?
• Where To, Mate?
• Who Runs The World?
• Wosson Cornwall
• You Heard It Here First
• You're Dead To Me
• Your Place Or Mine

British comedy films released in 2023

• The Ballad Of Wallis Island
• The Bank Of Dave
• Best Geezer
• The Bystanders
• Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget
• Christmas At The Holly Day Inn
• Chuck Chuck Baby
• A Cottage Christmas
• The Devil Went Down To Islington
• A Gaza Weekend
• God's Petting You
• Keeping The British End Up!
• Kevin Bridges - The Overdue Catch-Up
• A Kind Of Kidnapping
• KLOKKENLUIDER
• The Last Caveman
• Libby And Joan Hit The Road
• Little English
• Mad About The Boy - The Noël Coward Story
• Miss The Kiss
• Mother's Pride
• My Happy Ending
• Nandor Fodor And The Talking Mongoose
• The Oldest Comedy Club In Britain
• Or Something Like It
• Polite Society
• A Rush Of Blood
• Sumotherhood
• Timestalker
• Werewolf Santa
• What's Love Got To Do With It?
• Your Christmas Or Mine? 2

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Paul Chowdhry Official Website

Comedy Legend

PAUL CHOWDHRY

JOIN THE MAILER LIST INNIT ‘

What’s Happening? Welcome to my official website! Here’s my CV!

Paul chowdhry is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, celebrated for his wit and versatility. renowned as the most successful british indian stand-up comedian in history, paul’s career is marked by numerous accolades and groundbreaking achievements., in a remarkable feat, paul completed his highly acclaimed family-friendly comedian nationwide uk tour from 2021 to 2023, which saw three extensions due to overwhelming demand. this tour garnered widespread praise, culminating in a sold-out run at the prestigious edinburgh fringe festival in 2023, where it earned rave reviews and ratings ranging from 4 to 5 stars., in august 2019, paul’s record-breaking stand-up tour show, “live innit,” captivated audiences worldwide as an amazon prime original special, reaching viewers in over 200 countries. this followed the monumental success of his “live innit” tour, which boasted two nationwide extensions, including sold-out performances at iconic venues like hammersmith apollo and wembley arena. notably, paul became the first british asian stand-up comedian to sell out the 10,000-seat wembley arena, with approximately 100,000 seats sold across his tour. his unforgettable performance at wembley arena was voted one of the venue’s top ten shows of 2017 by the public., paul’s talent has earned him prestigious awards, including “best live event” at the itv asian media awards, “comedian of the year” at the asian voice awards, and the esteemed “eastern eye comedian of the year” award. described by the eastern eye as “the greatest british asian comedian of all time,” paul’s impact on the comedy scene is undeniable., beyond stand-up, paul shines as an actor, notably starring alongside patrick dempsey in the acclaimed international tv series “devils,” produced by sky italia. his television presence includes hosting duties on “stand up for the week” (channel 4), headlining performances on “live at the apollo” (bbc one/two), and a memorable stint as a contestant on the third series of the multi-award-nominated hit show “taskmaster” (dave/channel 4)., paul’s influence extends online, where he maintains a vibrant social media presence, with his videos amassing millions of views. with his boundless talent and undeniable charisma, paul chowdhry continues to captivate audiences worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the world of comedy., chowdhry’s iconic delivery and equal-opportunity observational comedy find him mocking almost every ethnic group, without resorting to tired cliché, the sunday times, “an irresistibly engaging comic”, broadway baby.

No shows booked at the moment.

GET IN CONTACT INNIT

Or just email [email protected] direct innit.

BRITISH COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR 2023 – GRAND FINAL

BRITISH COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR 2023 – GRAND FINAL

IT’S THE FA CUP OF COMEDY!

Over 1000 acts applied to be a part of British Comedian Of The Year, Tonight we are down to the final nine – Alistair Williams, Ben Silver, Gerry K, Jack Hester, Jenny Hart, Maureen Younger, Mike Cox, Nick Everritt, Wilson Milton

The winner will be decided by you, the audience!

MC – Ninia Benjamin

www.britishcomedianoftheyear.com

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Online casino firm 888.com to withdraw UK adverts after backlash

Ads to be removed from London transport network amid criticism of mayor Sadiq Khan’s ‘baffling’ decision to allow them

The online casino company 888.com will withdraw adverts from locations including London’s transport network after a backlash against their tone, prompting criticism of the capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan , for allowing them to appear in the first place.

With less than a week to go before Londoners vote for their next mayor , Khan’s Conservative rival, Susan Hall, joined a leading clinician and a group of peers in questioning Transport for London’s “baffling” decision to accept the campaign.

TfL has previously blocked promotions featuring artisanal cheese, a poster for a play that depicted a Victoria sponge cake , and the Wimbledon tennis tournament’s famous strawberries and cream, on the grounds that they promoted unhealthy eating.

But despite Khan’s 2021 manifesto pledge to ban gambling ads on London’s transport network, TfL has continued to accept promotions for bookies and online casinos, pending an independent review of the links between advertising and gambling harm.

In recent weeks 888.com had launched a campaign on the London Underground, trains and buses, featuring slogans such as “This carriage is now a casino”. Some black cabs carry the slogan “Fancy a spin?”.

But on Friday, after a request for comment from the Guardian, 888.com confirmed it would withdraw some of the ads, although it did not say which ones. It said the ads “could be interpreted in a different manner to the brand position we aim for”.

The decision is thought to be a response to criticism of the tone in which the ads promote online casino games, which are associated with higher rates of harm than most other gambling products, according to NHS survey data .

TfL said the 888 ads complied with the advertising regulator’s broadcasting code and its own policies, including that the ads should not “trivialise gambling”.

Khan’s closest rival on the mayoral race, Hall, said: “Sadiq Khan’s inconsistency in what adverts he allows and what ones he bans is baffling for Londoners. He is … banning adverts featuring cheese or strawberries and cream, while being completely relaxed about vaping and gambling?

“We need a common sense, clear approach to this, not one that allows the mayor … to play favourites.”

Prof Henrietta Bowden-Jones, who oversees the National Problem Gambling Clinic and is recognised as one of Britain’s leading experts on addiction, also criticised Khan after seeing one of the ads on the tube.

No it’s not a casino, it’s a London Underground train carriage. I took this photo. A child in school uniform was sitting below this gambling advert. ⁦ @TfL ⁩ ⁦⁦ @SadiqKhan when is this going to stop? ⁦ @GRHAPPG ⁩ ⁦ @pgreform ⁩ ⁦ @TheBMA ⁩ ⁦ @cagauk ⁩ pic.twitter.com/J7yRBpgAnR — Henrietta Bowden-Jones (@HBowdenJonesOBE) April 23, 2024

In a letter to TfL’s commissioner, Andrew Lord, the House of Lords group Peers for Gambling Reform said the “aggressive” ads contradicted Khan’s manifesto pledge. The group’s chair, Don Foster, said TfL’s stance on gambling, relative to junk food ads, was “clearly inconsistent”.

TfL’s review of its policy on gambling ads has allowed firms including 888.com, which is chaired by the Labour peer Jonathan Mendelsohn, to launch high-profile campaigns. Gambling firms have paid nearly £1.8m over the past two years to advertise on the network.

888.com has received some of the largest fines in the history of the British betting industry, including a £9.4m penalty in 2022 for multiple failings that led to customers racking up huge losses during the depths of the Covid crisis.

In 2017 it was fined £7.8m , then a record penalty, for similar failings. It also owns William Hill, current holder of the record for the highest ever penalty meted out by the Gambling Commission, a £19.2m penalty issued in 2023.

While TfL accepted 888’s ads, it has previously banned images promoting food that is considered unhealthy because it is high in fat, sugar or salt. Ads deemed beyond the pale included one featuring artisanal cheese and a promotion for the Wimbledon tennis championships that included strawberries and cream.

The comedian Ed Gamble was forced to replace a hotdog in a poster for his tour, titled Hot Diggity Dog. Gamble opted for a cucumber instead.

More than 80 councils across the UK have taken some form of action to restrict gambling advertising.

A London Labour spokesperson said: “City Hall commissioned an independent review of existing research on harmful gambling to help develop understanding of this subject. Further policy work is under way and will be considered carefully by Sadiq if he is re-elected on 2 May.”

An 888 spokesperson said: “We continuously listen to feedback regarding the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and acknowledge that, whilst fully compliant with all advertising regulations and standards, our latest campaign could be interpreted in a different manner to the brand position we aim for.

“As a result, we have decided to change the focus of this campaign and are withdrawing certain adverts that are currently running.”

• London politics
• Advertising

More on this story

Instagram ads in UK promoting ‘butt lifts’ in Turkey as part of holidays in potential breach of rules

Sadiq Khan’s green credentials may be critical in London mayoral election

London Underground customer service managers to strike over conditions

Video game firms found to have broken own UK industry rules on loot boxes

Digital slot machine limit of £2 set to cost gambling operators in UK millions

Katie Price Instagram post banned by advertising watchdog over diet claim

Mind the grub: comic Ed Gamble’s hotdog banned from tube ads

Sadiq Khan urges young Londoners to vote or risk ‘repeat of Brexit and Trump victory’

Nationwide TV ads starring Dominic West banned as misleading

Train drivers at London Underground and 16 rail firms to strike in April and May

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Brit Beat: Manchester, So Much to Answer for? New Arena Launch Stymied by Delays

By Mark Sutherland

Mark Sutherland

• Brit Beat: Manchester, So Much to Answer for? New Arena Launch Stymied by Delays 6 hours ago
• Global Music Revenue Grew 10.2% in 2023 — but Executives Warn of a ‘Transformational Moment’ Ahead 1 month ago
• Brit Beat: Jungle Gets a Boost at BRIT Awards, With Plans for International Expansion 2 months ago

It’s not often that a new venue dominates U.K. music industry conversation, but that’s certainly been the case with the opening – or not – of Oak View Group’s new Co-op Live A rena in Manchester .

With a capacity of 23,500 people, the new $458 million venue will become the biggest indoor arena in the U.K., although its grand unveiling has been hit by a series of problems.

Popular on Variety

A statement from Co-op Live about the latest postponements said: “We deeply appreciate the impact this will have on excited fans, and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause. 

“Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications and measures thoroughly. This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”

Ahead of that, Co-op Live GM Gary Roden dramatically resigned on April 25, following criticism over the initial postponements and comments he made to the BBC that some grassroots music venues were “poorly run”.

A statement from Oak View president Jessica Koravos thanked Roden and said: “Neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry. Co-op Live remains committed to grassroots music in Manchester and beyond.”

Rebecca Kane Burton, formerly VP/GM of The O2 in London, has been installed as interim GM. The venue is now scheduled to open with a gig by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on May 1, followed by Olivia Rodrigo on May 3/4.

Co-op Live is the first U.K. venue from Oak View, in partnership with the Manchester City soccer team’s owners City Football Group, and will enter a crowded Manchester concert market traditionally dominated by ASM Global’s AO Arena, which is currently undergoing a revamp that will increase its capacity from 21,000 to 24,000.

The AO Arena regularly makes the upper echelons of Pollstar’s top arenas list, but Leiweke told Variety he expects his venue to come out on top, predicting Co-op Live will host twice as many events per year as its rival.

“Everyone’s like, ‘Why would you pick a market where there’s already a Top 10 building in the industry?’” he said. “And what I always tell them is, the building’s not Top 10, the market is. That is a testament to the fans; [Manchester] has been a top market in music sales for 20-plus years, despite the building!

“That’s not a great building, it’s not a great experience – they should have put money into it a long time ago,” he said. “We probably would have thought twice about taking a run at them if they had spent real money, but until we announced our arena, they never spent a penny.”

Co-op Live’s bookings are certainly off to a good start, with multiple concerts scheduled from the likes of Rodrigo, Take That and Liam Gallagher. The MTV Europe Music Awards will also take place in the venue in November and Leiweke says he’s even confident of luring the BRIT Awards north from its traditional London base, claiming that the venue’s specifications, facilities – including a backstage area designed with input from Harry Styles – and increased capacity will make it an easy sell.

“If an artist comes into a building and it’s an easy load-in, load-out so their cost is low; they have a great experience back-of-house; the building is acoustically perfect; their fans enjoy the moment and they can walk out of the building with a 50% higher gate, it’s game, set and match,” he declared. “So that’s what we’ve tried to do – and the artists have all responded.”

Co-op Live has even secured a U.K. exclusive on the final dates from the Eagles – managed by Oak View co-founder Irving Azoff – who will play five dates in May and June, and will not appear anywhere else in Britain, not even London.

Leiweke expects that exclusive to be a one-off, but said Oak View is looking into opening a Co-op Live-style arena in West London to rival the O2 on the other side of the U.K. capital. MSG recently abandoned plans to open a version of its Las Vegas Sphere in the city, but Leiweke has experience in this area: when he was at AEG, he drove the opening of The O2, which became the world’s No.1 venue.

Leiweke says Oak View will also invest in other U.K. venues and live entertainment businesses and wants to open arenas in other cities in Europe. But the run-up to the opening of Co-op Live saw the venue embroiled in a row with the Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents grassroots venues. The MVT has criticized the new arena for not investing in the small venue ecosystem and claims requests to meet were declined.

Leiweke, however, told Variety he was willing to meet with the MVT as and when Co-op Live is up and running – similar sentiments were also expressed in Oak View’s post-Roden-resignation statement.

“The one thing you will hear about my reputation is, I don’t think there’s anyone that goes out of their way to develop relationships better than I do,” Leiweke said. The MVT is campaigning for a £1 levy on tickets for arena concerts to be used to secure the future of grassroots venues and artists. When he spoke to Variety, Leiweke did not dismiss that idea, but said he needs more time to consider options.

“I’m well aware of the investment they’re trying to derive to keep the grassroots alive,” he said, noting Co-op Live will donate £1m ($1.25m) a year to local community charities and projects. “But there are a lot of people knocking on our door and there are a lot of needs in this community. I love grassroots music but it has to be done the right way, and I never like it when somebody tries to put a gun to my head, like they were trying to do at one point. But we’ll talk to them once we get open.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It remains to be seen if the BRIT Awards will move outside London in the future, but this year’s ceremony certainly racked up record-breaking viewing figures online.

Like most awards shows these days, the BRITs had slipped in the TV ratings, losing 800,000 viewers from last year’s ceremony, but the awards’ partnership with Meta yielded 1.1 billion views of the live performances on Instagram Reels in the 30 days after the show. It was part of a booming digital presence for the show, with a further 12.2 million views on YouTube and huge reach across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X/Twitter.

BRIT Awards chair Damian Christian hails the numbers as “off the charts” and says they more than make up for any decline in TV viewers.

“The [TV] ratings can be an ego thing,” Christian tells Variety. “Last year’s TV numbers were higher than they’ve been for a long, long time – and, of course, I would have loved to have kept those numbers. But once I knew the online figures were so ridiculously big, that compensates.”

Christian – also managing director and president of promotions for Atlantic Records U.K. – took over the show last year, but agrees this year’s event was “a bit of a challenge” to book, due to so many of Britain’s superstar artists not being in cycle.

“Let’s be honest, ITV want as many big names on as possible, while keeping it relevant to the BRIT Awards – we all do,” Christian admits. “We have our superstars, and then there’s the artists who’ve been grafting for years – it was those artists’ year to be celebrated, and they really stepped up. ITV knew it was a reflection of the last year of British music and they were cool about it.”

The 2024 edition also struggled to attract major international talent. While Tate McRae and Rema did play live, none of the international winners (Miley Cyrus, SZA and Boygenius) made it to the ceremony and the industry rumor mill suggests several other A-list American stars rejected the chance to perform.

“Hopefully that’s a one-off,” says Christian. “Last year we had Lizzo, who is a big international superstar. This year, at one stage it was looking like we’d have some of the winners in the room but, in the end, they couldn’t for various reasons. 

“A lot of the big American stars live in and around Hollywood so the Grammys are on their doorstep, but I still think people love winning a BRIT Award,” he adds. “The BRITs still mean a lot to artists on a global scale.”

In the superstars’ absence, Christian notes that several independent acts had a good night at a show that is traditionally dominated by the majors. Raye picked up a record-breaking six BRITs after leaving her major label, Polydor, to release music independently and also saved the BRITs the embarrassment of the previous year, when the nominations and winners were dominated by male artists.

“Last year, we were criticized and rightly so, so for a female artist to mop up and clear the board was a good moment,” Christian says. “Is the problem fixed now? If it isn’t, we’ll be having this chat again next year!”

And talking of 2025, Christian says he’d “definitely be up for doing it again” next year, which will be the final event of Warner Music’s three-year chairmanship.

“Everyone seems really happy with the way it was executed and how it was run,” says Christian. “So I’ll sit down with [Warner Music U.K. chairman/CEO Tony Harlow] and we’ll see.

“Everyone feels they can do it better, everyone thinks it’s a walk in the park but it’s not quite like that,” he adds. “But I’ve absolutely loved it – it still feels like the biggest night in the music calendar and we have to keep that going, it’s really important.”

+++++++++++++++

Running Britain’s most influential radio station is a similarly high-profile, high-pressure job – and BBC Radio 1 boss Aled Haydn Jones has given the network a major shake-up of late, with significant changes made to its line-up of DJs.

Now, Haydn Jones has moved to switch up the station’s tastemaking presenters. There are new faces at Drivetime (with Jamie Laing and Katie Thistleton joining Vick Hope) and afternoons (Matt Edmondson and Mollie King), as well as at various weekend shows. But the most significant change for the industry comes in the early evening “Future Sounds” slot, previously hosted by the likes of Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley.

It’s now been rebranded as Radio 1’s New Music Show, which launched this month, with Jack Saunders taking over from Clara Amfo. She will remain with the station, while the highly rated Sian Eleri takes over Saunders’ old Future Artists show, which concentrates on emerging artists.

Haydn Jones, speaking exclusively to Variety, says that Saunders – who has already built up a formidable reputation for breaking artists on Future Artists and Radio 1’s Indie Show – brings “a ferocious energy” to the show and will ensure that the station’s commitment to breaking new music is amped up still further.

“If you’re a label from around the world, you have a true music fan in Jack,” Haydn Jones says. “We know how important that show is and we’re doubling down on giving it the space and the platform it deserves. It’s about breaking music from established artists wherever they come from, whether it’s the U.K., North America or global.”

Haydn Jones considers Radio 1 to be a global brand these days, with audiences from all over the world consuming the station’s content on platforms that go way beyond the FM waveband.

“When labels give us the hottest records and work with us for big moments, we’re reaching millions of listeners in the UK,” he says. “But you also have access to the world’s biggest YouTube channels for a radio station and the world’s biggest social accounts for a radio station, as well as potentially tapping into the wider BBC system.

“Breaking new music runs through our DNA,” he adds. “We did it with BTS, we were there with Drake and we were there at the very beginning with so many artists that other stations weren’t around to help break into the U.K.”

Haydn Jones admits that the competition for young listeners is intense, with the station up against global digital giants such as Spotify and TikTok. But he’s confident that Radio 1 still brings its audience things that they can’t find elsewhere.

“We take artists and give them a large platform of exposure,” he says. “That’s what streaming doesn’t do very well, because it’s about tracks. Or on TikTok, which everyone likes to talk about at the moment, you’re just getting hooks. But with radio, and Radio 1 in particular, you’re getting to understand what the artist is about, their body of work, who they are – it’s the whole journey.”

Haydn Jones says part of his job is “making sure the right presenters are in the right seats” but one thing he says won’t be changing is long-running Breakfast Show host Greg James, who will rack up six years in the prestigious slot this summer – the second longest stint in the station’s 56-year history.

“As long as Greg is fine with getting up at 4am, he’s welcome to do this show,” he says. “He’s doing phenomenal stuff.”

++++++++++++++++

Finally, one of the most long-awaited events in the U.K. music industry finally happened this month, as the Intellectual Property Office’s Creator Remuneration Working Group met for the first time on April 18.

The group was announced by the government in June 2023, as one of the recommendations emerging from the Culture, Media & Sport Committee’s report on the economics of music streaming, and was first mooted long before that.

But anyone hoping for swift progress now the group has finally convened looks set to be disappointed. According to Variety sources in the room, the first meeting saw creator groups and rights-holders unable to even agree on what should be on the agenda for future meetings.

Four representatives from the Council of Music Makers (CMM) umbrella group of creator bodies are on the 20-plus strong working group, and they opened the meeting with an address that pulled few punches. CMM members are keen to view future sessions as a de facto negotiation over minimum digital royalty rates, equitable remuneration and the right to rights reversion and contract adjustment.

But rights-holders representatives on the group want to discuss a range of other issues, from AI to TikTok payments. Earlier this year, an IPO study said the equitable remuneration model “does not offer a simple solution”.

The government has said it will consider legislation around artist remuneration if the music industry can’t find its own solution. With the U.K.’s Conservative administration seemingly on its last legs, some members of the group may be hoping to delay any decisions until the next government takes over following a General Election expected later this year. Although, in fact, it seems likely that any incoming Labour government would be more amenable to a legislative solution, particularly if #BrokenRecord campaigner Tom Gray succeeds in his bid to become an MP.

Nonetheless, labels body the BPI hailed the meeting as “constructive”, while indie labels body AIM said it would “look forward to working collaboratively to achieve growth, assess the data behind the issues, and ensure widespread best practice and fair returns from streaming for all participants” .

A date for the next meeting has yet to be scheduled. But it’s clear that, while the industry has successfully reached agreement on metadata standards and a transparency code, finding common ground on remuneration is going to be an uphill battle.

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