Leicester Comedy Festival has announced finalists for their flagship competitions Leicester Comedian of the Year, the UK Pun Championships, Silver Stand Up and their artist development project Circuit Breakers.
Nurturing exciting new talent alongside celebrating seasoned acts is at the core of Leicester Comedy Festival, and 2025 promises to be the biggest festival yet, with 720 shows taking place at 72 venues in the city and beyond.
Leicester Comedian of the Year returns, showcasing eight comedians, nominated by industry professionals and taking place at The Y Theatre on 22 February 2025. It will be hosted by Thanyia Moore. Past winners have included Josh Widdicombe, Johnny Vegas & Romesh Ranganathan.
Leicester Comedian of the Year 2025 finalists are:
Andy Fox
Ant Dewson
Archit Goenka
Hannah Lawrence
James Ellis
June Tuesday
Louise Atkinson
Lucas Jefcoate
The hugely successful UK Pun Championships return for the 11th year in 2025. Eight acts will battle it out in a boxing ring at De Montfort Hall on 10 February 2025, to be crowned Pun Champion as the grand finale of #UKPunDay. The event will be hosted by Jason Byrne.
UK Pun Championships 2025 finalists are:
Daniel Edison
Josh Faulkner
Rabiah Coon
Mary Cross
Pauline Eyre
Sharlin Jahan
Stevie Vegas
Will BF (pictured)
Circuit Breakers, a Leicester Comedy Festival flagship initiative highlighting & supporting emerging talent brings two exciting mixed bill shows to The Guildhall on 14 & 15 February 2025, hosted by Charlie George.
Circuit Breakers 2025 participants are:
Caroline Gustafsson
Farhan Solo
Jen Nolan
Kate Sharp
Kent Cameron
Marina Smith
The Silver Stand-Up competition is a unique showcase for any established or up-and-coming comic over the age of 55. "Anything that provides an antidote to all the young upstarts taking over the comedy scene has to be a good thing", said Alexei Sayle. The event takes place at LCB Depot on 13 February 2025 and is hosted by Britain's Got Talent sensation Mrs Barbara Nice.
Silver Stand Up 2025 finalists are:
Julie Metcalfe
Kevin Hudson
Kevin O’Brien
Lubna Kerr
Mark Ahier
Mark Vincent
Samantha Day
SJ Wyatt
Charlotte Laidet, Festivals and Programme Director at Big Difference, the charity behind the festival, said, “Leicester Comedy Festival is dedicated to fostering new talent and using comedy as a means of uniting people. This year, we received a record number of applications, which underscores the ongoing demand within the comedy industry and community for opportunities and events like these. We are looking forward to the shows in February & wish all the finalists good luck!”.
Next year’s dates for Leicester Comedy Festival and the UK Kids Comedy Festival are 5 – 23 February 2025. Tickets for all of the shows are available to purchase on www.comedy-festival.co.uk
