The Live Comedy Association, producers of Live Comedy Day, have hailed the first day as a success and claim it helped raise the profile of live comedy across the UK. It has now been announced that the day will be repeated on 1st April 2027. Over 120 comedians took part in shows across the UK, with a total capacity of over 20,000 people, at venues ranging from The Yellow Book in Brighton (30 seats, hosted by the “incredible, insatiable, and incorrigible” Leslie Bloom) to the Royal Albert Hall where Vir Das played to 3,500. Promoters and producers taking part included Live Nation, Berk’s Nest, Plosive Live, Funny Women, Chambers Touring, Blue Book Artist Management and PBJ Management. Full details about the project are available by visiting www.livecomedyday.co.uk
Live Comedy Day was featured on BBC Radio 4, The One Show, Times Radio, The Big Issue as well as numerous BBC local radio stations. The features included interviews with members of the LCA talking about their experiences of working in live comedy and some of the challenges that are currently faced and support which is needed. BBC Radio 4 posted exclusive interviews with comedians including Armando Iannucci, Stewart Lee, Andy Zaltzman, Suzi Ruffell, Seann Walsh, Diona Doherty, Jo Caulfield, Neil Delamere, Phil Ellis on their social media channels.
Julia McKenzie, Commissioning Editor for Comedy and Entertainment, BBC Radio 4, who partnered with the LCA on the project, said “It’s been amazing working with the Live Comedy Association and all the promoters, comedians and venues across the UK on the first ever Live Comedy Day. The project aimed to raise the profile of, and celebrate, grassroots live comedy and it’s been wonderful to see so many shows taking part, from the small, intimate gigs to bigger ones at the Palladium and elsewhere. Nice to hear so much coverage of grassroots comedy on our BBC Local Radio Stations and I loved our extended Live From The UK show too – full of terrific stand-up from Edinburgh, Brighton, Swansea and Belfast. I look forward to working together to make 2027 even better!”
The Live Comedy Association (LCA) is the only membership organisation in the UK to represent people working across the live comedy sector. It has 1500 members who work across the sector, including comedians, promoters, producers, festivals and more. The Community Interest, not for profit company, set up in 2020, is working to get live comedy recognised as an essential part of the creative industries and has formed an alliance of like minded organisations to support the work including academics, politicians, cultural organisations, digital platforms and media and PR organisations.
Jessica Toomey co-Chair of the LCA, said “our members are the core of what we do and we were delighted with how many of them took the opportunity to take part in Live Comedy Day. We were also incredibly grateful to our ambassadors who took time out to support the project. Live Comedy Day was a real grassroots event and has helped raise the profile once again of the incredible work which is done in the live comedy sector.
There is loads more LCA news to come including an exclusive Parliamentary event specifically to raise the profile of the live comedy sector, and more news on the progress of our Stand Up And Give Fund which will help support our work and also the wider work of colleagues.
Live Comedy Day will be back on 1st April 2027 and we hope there will be more events, and more opportunities for us to shout about the work we do.”
The LCA’s Stand Up And Give Fund is the only UK-wide, year round fund which supports those working in the live comedy sector and aims to improve working conditions for everyone. Donations can be made via the crowdfunding page https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/stand-up-give
