Laughter is certainly the best medicine - even if you’re not ill! Why not get your ribs well and truly tickled over the next few weeks by attending one or more of the following laughter-fests...  

 

 

LUCY BEAUMONT

No less a comedian than the highly praised Arthur Smith once described Lucy Beaumont as ‘the next Victoria Wood in the making’. Others have called her ‘a riot’ and praised her ‘devastating comic timing’. 
For Lucy’s part, though, she’s just grateful that performing no longer feels like an out-of-body experience.
“I started out acting but quickly realised I needed to try something else,” says the Hull-born comic, who was last year diagnosed with ADHD and recently amicably separated from husband and fellow comedian Jon Richardson. “I’ve had all sorts of humorous things happen to me in my life, so I thought it made sense to see how I’d do at being funny.”

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 14 November; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thursday 21 November

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KANE BROWN

Parenthood, family life, relationships and British culture are among the subjects to which Kane Brown regularly returns during his live shows. 
The one-time direct-sales executive kickstarted his current career back in 2006 when he enrolled in a two-week course in standup-comedy, since which time he’s honed his rib-tickling talents to excellent effect. 
Kane visits the region this month with his acclaimed show, Don’t Listen To Me. 

O2 Institute, Birmingham, Thursday 14 & Friday 15 November; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Saturday 23 November

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KIRI PRITCHARD-MCLEAN

Hailed for her dynamic stand-up and admirable commitment to chiselling out high-quality humour from even the thorniest of subjects, Kiri Pritchard-McLean makes a welcome return to the circuit with Peacock, a show about her recent experience of becoming a foster parent. 
“Lots of people don’t know how [fostering] works,” Kiri recently told Entssouthwales, “and I think demystifying things can often open doors. People have preconceptions about who and what it takes to be a foster carer. I think a stand-up comedian who’s about to do a 100-date tour blows a lot of those [preconceptions] out of the water!”  

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thursday 14 November; Stratford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Friday 15 November; Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Sunday 24 November

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TATTY MCCLOUD

Born in Zimbabwe and raised in France to British parents, London-based Tatty McCloud shot to fame on social media, making a significant splash with her witty observations about the differences between French and British culture.
Tatty has now hit the road with a debut hour of comedy that turns the spotlight on the subject of ‘belonging’. Or, to be more precise, the business of ‘finding your tribe, or not, and how to be okay with that’.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Friday 15 November

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RHOD GILBERT

Welsh funnyman Rhod Gilbert has acquired a huge and still-growing following thanks to a high-energy brand of grumpiness that marks him out as one of the top comedians of his generation. 

He’s returning to the Midlands this month with Rhod Gilbert And The Giant Grapefruit, a show in which he’ll be discussing his recent battle against stage four head and neck cancer. 

Rhod’s best-loved gags include: “In the Bible, God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. That’s a pretty good summer for Wales... That’s a hosepipe ban waiting to happen.” And “A spa hotel? It’s like a normal hotel, only in reception there’s a picture of a pebble.”

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Friday 15 - Saturday 16 November

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RUSSELL KANE

Past publicity blurb for this fella said it all: “Strap in for some super-speed sunderings and inconvenient sociology in a show of self-soiling merriment that will leave you with rickets.” 

In short, Russell Kane is a very funny man - and it’s not just his publicist who thinks so. Russell has been drawing a crowd since bursting onto the scene 20 years ago, serving up liberal doses of humour at a frenetic pace. 

The London-born comedian visits the Midlands with latest touring show HyperActive.

Birmingham Hippodrome, Friday 15 November; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Saturday 8 March 2025; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sunday 27 April 2025

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ED GAMBLE

“I’m essentially a great guy delivering humour through your classic microphone/speaker combo,” says a tongue-in-cheek Ed Gamble in describing himself. “As well as being a stand-up comedian, I’m an actor and a writer - although, to be honest, I very rarely act, and ‘writing’ is a very lofty term for the absolute filth I’ve committed to paper in the past.” 

Co-host (with James Acaster) of award-winning podcast Off Menu, a judge on Great British Menu, Taskmaster champion and host of Taskmaster The Podcast, Ed stops off in the Midlands this month with his brand-new touring show, Hot Diggity Dog. 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Saturday 16 November

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IVO GRAHAM

Seriously posh and admirably self-deprecating, Ivo Graham won plenty of new fans in 2019 when one of his gags was nominated for the coveted ‘best joke of the Edinburgh Fringe’ award: “I’ve got an Eton-themed advent calendar,” explained Ivo, “where all the doors are opened for me by my dad’s contacts.”
The Tokyo-born Oxford alumnus visits the Midlands with Grand Design, a show which is described by its publicity in the following way: No ball games, no blind alleys, no backstage printers this year; just one of the best stand-ups of his generation, back to prove he’s not just Taskmaster’s yardstick for failure.

Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent, Thursday 21 November

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GRACE CAMPBELL

Describing herself as the funniest person she has ever met and “famous in North West London”, Grace Campbell is a comedian with a fast-growing following and wit to spare. 
The daughter of one-time Downing Street director of communications Alistair Campbell, Grace visits the Midlands this month with a new show in which she reflects on numerous significant life changes, from turning 30 and becoming a dog owner, to giving non-monogamy a go and then trying out celibacy. 
Expect answers to ‘big questions about the world, her vagina, and her obsession with making her new dog her entire brand…’ 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 21 November

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​OMID DJALILI

A fella who’s been referred to as “the thinking person’s Iranian comedian”, Omid Djalili is probably one of the most subversive comics currently doing the rounds on the UK comedy circuit.  
“I’ve been breaking away from the Middle Eastern pigeonhole that you people [journalists] have unfairly put me in. I’m a citizen of the world, and I will not be defined by cultural stereotypes. I have a specific viewpoint, which many call ‘Djalili-esque’, and I think my material reflects that now. Would you like a carpet? Visit my website. I also sell fried chicken, mayonnaise, motorcycle insurance and viagra, very fine price.”

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Friday 22 & Saturday 23 November; Dudley Town Hall, Friday 21 February; Stratford PlayHouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, Saturday 22 February; Birmingham Town Hall, Friday 16 May; The Regal, Evesham, Saturday 20 September; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 9 October

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PADDY MCGUINNESS

Best known as Peter Kay’s sidekick in the hit TV shows Phoenix Nights and Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere - and more recently as a co-presenter of BBC TV series Top Gear and the critically panned Road Tripping - Paddy McGuinness is one of the UK’s most popular comedy talents.
This new tour marks a return to stand-up after a break of eight years, with Paddy having openly admitted he’s hitting the road because “the money’s run out”.
“I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience,” said the 51-year-old before embarking on the tour, “along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, click bait and fake news!

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Saturday 23 November; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Friday 28 February; The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Saturday 1 March

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TOM WARD

Having recently made the decision to eat healthily during the week - “Saturday nights are for colon carnage” - Tom Ward has put together a show that’s all about rethinking everything. “The thinness of reality is the theme of Choose Your Delusion,” he says. 
He then goes on to further explain that the evening will see him reflecting on “all the big topics of our time: masculinity, three-star hotels, erectile dysfunction, reality TV, adverts, mental health and virtue-signalling w**kers”. 
Tom’s visits to the Midlands this month form part of his second-ever UK tour.

The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sunday 24 November

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CARL HUTCHINSON

Observational comedian Carl Hutchinson makes a welcome return with a show that covers all manner of common-or-garden topics. Prior to becoming a full-time stand-up, Carl was a maths teacher. “There are certainly comparisons between the two professions,” says the popular Geordie funnyman, “but the definite advantage with comedy is that if you have a bad gig, you can rest assured that you don’t have to see the same audience the next day at 10am!”
Carl visits the region with new show Today Years Old.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sunday 24 November; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sunday 16 February; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wednesday 21 May

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MO GILLIGAN

London standup Mo Gilligan has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame and fortune since first coming to wider public attention just a handful of years ago. It was back in December 2016 that Mo uploaded a video about grime MCs - since which time he’s found himself catapulted to celebrity status. Hired by Channel Four to front The Lateish Show and rewarded for his television work with a coveted Bafta gong, Mo admits that his life has started to feel just a little bit crazy. “I wake up in the morning and think, ‘This is nuts!’” admits the 35-year-old. “It’s what I’d always dreamt about, and now that it’s happened, I’m determined to make the most of it.” 

Utilita Arena Birmingham, Saturday 30 November 2024

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TROY HAWKE

Erudite and home-schooled 1930s throwback Troy Hawke lists his hobbies as playing scrabble, conspiracy theories and calling Manchester City’s Erling Haaland “a tremendous Nordic meat shield”.

The foppish Errol Flynn-lookalike (Troy, that is, not Erling) - as played by character stand-up Milo McCabe - had been out and about on the comedy circuit for a good few years before finally hitting the online jackpot and going viral on TikTok. 

Troy is visiting the Midlands this month with The Greeters Guild, a show in which he ‘examines his unlikely genesis and explores exactly why a well-dressed man simply being nice to people has caused such a kerfuffle’. 

Expect an evening of splendidly incongruous, occasionally brain-addling, delivered-with-warmth comedy.

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Saturday 30 November

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MILTON JONES

With a style of humour that’s mainly based around puns and one-liners, Milton Jones has established himself as one of Britain’s most in-demand funnymen. 
“If my comedy’s working well, I put a cartoon in people’s heads that surprises them,” explains Milton. “So you start off and they’re thinking one thing, then you surprise them by changing the ending as you go along. It’s not political or particularly edgy, it’s just daft. It’s a sort of verbal practical joke, but some people really hate that. 
I think the better the comic you are, the stronger the flavour you are.”
Milton’s gags include: “Militant feminists - I take my hat off to them. They don’t like that,” and “Recently, on a flight to America, all the way across, my wife was going, ‘Why don’t you get an upgrade, why don’t you get an upgrade?’  “It took a bit of time, but in the end I got a better wife.”

 Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Friday 6 December

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PETER KAY

Peter Kay has the magical ability to endear himself to just about everybody. Gregarious in nature and bringing to the stage bucketloads of northern-style charisma, he peddles a line in comedy which is bold and biting but never cruel.

“It’s good to get back to what I love doing best,” he says, in talking about his return to stand-up comedy. “And if there’s ever a time people need a laugh, it’s now.” 

Returning to the circuit after taking a 12-year break, he’s offering tickets to his shows at the same starting price as the previous time he went out on tour, way back in 2010. 

Friday 6 December; Friday 24 January 2025; Saturday 7 June 2025; Friday 5 December 2025

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CHRIS MCCAUSLAND

“A long time ago, when I’d only just started out as a comedian,” recalls scouse funnyman Chris McCausland, “I walked out on stage and was telling a joke to break the ice about being blind, when somebody in the audience shouted out, pantomime style, ‘We’re behind you!’ It was very funny!”

Chris has the eye condition retinitis pigmentosa. “It’s been referred to in different ways across the years,” he says, “from the rather dull and generic-sounding macular degeneration to the cool and groovy inverse cone-rod dystrophy!” 

A touring comedian since the mid-noughties, Chris has also appeared on a host of television panel games and in series including EastEnders and Moving On. 

He visits the Midlands with latest show Yonks!.

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Sunday 26 January; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thursday 30 January

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KATHERINE RYAN

Taking a wry, warped and witty look at the world around her, Katherine Ryan often writes and performs material which proves that even the darkest of subject matter can have a funny side. 
Katherine hits the road this month with a brand-new stand-up offering. 
“My new show is called Battleaxe, because it means a tyrant and a loud, outspoken feminist,” Katherine recently told BBC TV’s The One Show. “And those are all positive terms for me, not negative ones. And I like reclaiming words; especially words about women that are negative.”

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Friday 31 January; The Civic at The Halls, Wolverhampton, Saturday 8 February; Utilita Arena Birmingham, Saturday 10 May