The Comedy Defect

A provocative and original stand up comedian, Dane Baptiste was the first Black British act to be nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for his debut solo show. His second solo show was also met with critical acclaim and sold out at the Edinburgh Festival, leading to his first nationwide solo tour. This was followed by a world tour of his third solo show, G.O.D. (Gold. Oil. Drugs.). Dane’s extensive TV appearances include Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), Mock the Week (BBC Two), 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), Frankie Boyle’s New World Order (BBC Two), Roast Battle (Comedy Central), Tonight at the London Palladium (ITV1) and Live from the BBC (BBC Three). He hosts his own podcast, Dane Baptiste Questions Everything, and his latest show, Bamous, debuted to critical acclaim on BBC Three. www.danebaptiste.co.uk

The 2017 English Comedian of the Year finalist, Darius Davies is a regular performer at all of the major UK comedy clubs and has also toured internationally. With a particular style akin to a performance poet or faith healer, Darius commands his audience with wonderful charisma – an American style comedian with British soul. A distinct voice in a sea of ubiquity – Darius is fearless in his belief in what is funny and forging his own path. This is high energy, captivating stand up comedy fuelled with passion, soul and wit. Darius Davies is also the host and co-creator of the hit sell-out Edinburgh show, Hate ‘n’ Live along with fellow comedians Justin Panks and Leo Kearse. Competitions English Comedian of the Year Finalist 2017 Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Finalist Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Finalist Reading Comedy Festival New Act of the Year Runner Up Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year Finalist ★★★★★ ‘Brilliant, hilarious, outstanding' Broadway Baby ★★★★ 'A knockout sensation!' Broadway World ★★★★ 'Bewitches the audience' The Wee Review ★★★★ 'A near faultless and original set' ScotsGay 'Full of verve, slightly channeling Russell Brand in his mischief, style and energy' Chortle   YouTube & Instagram: @persianofinterest www.dariusdavies.com      

Zahra hit the stand up scene in February 2011 and has since been a 2013 Bath New Act of The Year Finalist, a Funny Woman (in association with Company Magazine) Finalist, Laughing Horse New Act at Brighton Fringe Finalist, Comedy Cafe New Act 2012 Finalist, beaten ‘The Frog’ at The Frog and Bucket and reached the Semi Finals of The Picadilly New Act of The Year Competition. She has also gigged with Gail Porter and supported notorious ‘Best Seller’ and International Drug Baron (!) Howard Marks; and she has opened for Tiffany Stevenson, Dana Alexander and Kate Smurthwaite. ‘Zahra Barri who is Irish/Egyptian: a combination which makes stand-up comedy an almost unavoidable career choice, and had some unexpected Muslim viewpoints on blind dates and bikini waxing, and a terrific gag about the similarity between stand-up comedy and terrorism’ – Venue Magazine ‘Terrific’ – Venue Magazine ‘Zahra Barri, a cool Rita Rudner…’ Alan Nixon Channel 5 Head Of Comedy and Entertainment and Director of Absolutely Productions Mailing List: www.zahrabarri.com

Stephanie started performing in April 2007 on the Scottish comedy circuit. She quickly established herself as one of the most promising acts of her generation on the circuit, and in 2015 appeared as a finalist in the prestigious Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year competition. Stephanie is best described as goofy and peculiar, and her comedy is partway between the needy oddness of Maria Bamford and the upbeat affability of Josie Long. Her material is a mix of silliness, filth and unusual observations, underpinned by a disarming honesty which makes her seem charmingly vulnerable. Now a regular on the circuit Stephanie has also become a stalwart of comedy festivals across the country having appeared at Brighton Fringe, Leicester Comedy Festival, York Comedy Festival, Bath Comedy Festival, Women in Comedy Festival as well as appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe every year since 2010. Not content with just performing in the UK Stephanie has also appeared at UCB in New York & The Laugh Factory in L.A. Most recently in 2018 Stephanie took her solo show ‘Mad About The Boy’ to the Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth comedy festivals. Stephanie can currently be seen performing for the likes of  Laughterhouse, The Frog & Bucket, Komedia, Funhouse Comedy Clubs, Up The Creek, The Comedy Station. Twitter: @stephanie_laing Instagram/FB: stephanielaingcomedian

Home Counties girl Vivienne Kay recently entered the world of stand up and brings a delightful charm undercut by wit and cynicism to shows throughout the UK. Don’t let her apparent virtue fool you. Described as having ‘funny bones’, she mixes an innocence with unexpected darkness in gag filled sets. “Vivienne Kay has plenty to say ... think Joe Pasquale on helium ... a winning, slightly vulnerable persona” Chortle. “Solid comedy” The Wee Review. “Quirky, on the money style… a talented comedian who makes the audience feel at home” Suffolk Punch Comedy Club. Bath New Act 2018: FINALIST / Get Up Stand Up 2018: SEMI-FINALIST. Twitter & Instagram: @viviennekay  

Mike was born with his head between a woman’s legs, took that fact, added beer, and created one of the funniest stand-up acts on both sides of the Atlantic. If you live on the eastern side of the pond and are a fan of Rich Hall’s, you probably saw Mike appear with him on the BBC in Rich Hall’s Cattle Drive, or Rich Hall’s Fishing Show, or flagship stand-up show Live at the Apollo. Or you might have seen him as himself on the BBC in Never Mind the Buzzcocks or 28 Acts in 28 Minutes. On the other side of the Atlantic, Mike was on Canadian TV in Corner Gas, and All the Comforts, and on CMT’s Ron White’s Salute to the Troops. The above just scratches the surface of this funny man’s comedic depth. You might ask, ‘What do you mean by that?’ And I would answer: ‘He’s got awards. He’s got awards up the whazoo: the Barry Award for Outstanding Stand-up Comic Performance in Australia; the Time Out Award for Best Stand-Up in London, England; the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male Film Performance, and he twice received the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-up.’ Mike has made numerous film and television appearances over the years, with a showstopping role in It’s All Gone Pete Tong and a cast regular on The Fountain and Flickers. Add to this all his other Canadian TV appearances – the thousands of times he did his stand-up on nightclub stages, and all the festivals from Melbourne, Australia to Kilkenny, Ireland to Edinburgh, Scotland to Montreal, Canada – and you have one hell of a funny man. In 2016 Mike made his debut appearance at London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of the Teenager Cancer Trust gigs, and had a weeklong sold out run at London’s Soho Theatre. Twitter & Instagram: @MikeWilmot1

“Very, very funny” The Jewish Chronicle ★★★★ “A confident and charismatic performer” Funny Women  “Creeger is never anything less than truly fascinating.” Views From The Gods “Tight writing, sharp performance and a beautifully zany imagination.” The Brighton Source Podcast: Jew Talking to me! @jewtalking Twitter & Instagram: @Rachcreeger www.rachelcreeger.com  

Stella Graham is a naturally funny stand-up comedian, writer & actor. Shameless, charmingly aggressive and unladylike, she's the funniest half Sri Lankan gal from Coventry. During Lockdown, Stella made funny workout videos, a video podcast and did online gigs! What a trip. Gigging in slippers. "If you're a TV executive, drop what you're doing and go see her now" - The Skinny  "Fun and original... everything a good comedian should be: self-assured, likeable and, crucially, funny" - Broadway Baby ****- Fringe Guru “She's also got a terrifically funny way with one liners, as they subverted expectations and delivered punch lines which were squarely at your sides.” - TVNZ "Laugh-a-minute" - Fringe Benefits, Adelaide Fringe Stella's written for TV & radio and presented shows on TV & radio. Twitter & Instagram: @stellagraham YouTube: TheStellaGraham www.stellagraham.com

One of the most original acts in comedy, particularly noted for his ability to improvise, Trevor Lock’s unique brand of high energy stand up, mixing cleverly crafted wordplay with stream of consciousness extemporization has gained him a worldwide cult following. He is particular adept at dealing with hecklers and without whom it sometimes seems he wouldn’t have an act. His raucous weekly comedy showcase Trevor Lock’s Philosophy Society ran for 18 months to sell out audiences in Leicester Square in 2007/8. He has toured the UK supporting both Stewart Lee and Russell Brand. Twitter & Instagram: @thetrevorlock

Law's comedy career began with him winning the New Act competition at Glastonbury Festival in 1995.[5][6] A lot of Law's earlier material featured tales of his time-travelling exploits in the company of his sausage dog, Cartridge Davison. Cartridge is the eponymous "Dog Of Time" from his Edinburgh show of the same name, and has appeared with Law on ITV's Comedy Cuts TV show. In 2002 he was a regular panellist on the Channel 4 comedy quiz show Does Doug Know?. He also appeared in a series of television adverts for Gala Bingo and has had TV exposure on Edinburgh & Beyond and Comedy Cuts. Law's first comedy tour was in 2009 and in 2010 he was a support act for Stewart Lee. Law performed on Russell Howard's Good News in April 2011 as part of one of the extended episodes called Russell Howard's Good News Extra. On 17 October 2011, he also appeared on the satirical music-based panel game Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In 2011–2012, Law toured his comedy show Tony Law: Go Mr Tony Go!. In August 2012, he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe to perform his new show, Tony Law: Maximum Nonsense. The show was nominated for best comedy show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He appeared on the BBC One show Have I Got News for You, a satire panel show, on 2 November 2012, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson. In November 2012 he appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, and returned to that show on 8 February 2013. In February–March 2013 he appeared in Comedy Central UK's The Alternative Comedy Experience. Law has performed in podcasts including Do the Right Thing and Why Is Your Bottom So Dirty.  He also has his own podcast series The Tony Law Tapes. In 2017 Law worked with Adam Larter to create an experimental comedy opera on ice at the Alexandra Palace called 'Battle for Icetopia’ The show won the Chortle Award for Event of the Year.

Cally Beaton is a keynote speaker, awards host, comedian, business leader, podcaster, writer and entrepreneur. Well-known for being a natural storyteller, full of intelligent, distinctive and insightful material, Cally is one of the UK’s most sought-after names for corporate, broadcasting and live comedy work. Cally has held senior management positions at some of the biggest media companies in the world. Early in her career she headed an independent television production company that was bought by ITV, and went on to find herself the youngest and only female member of the board. She left to set up an award-winning creative consultancy company, Road Trip Media, and went on to do a ten-year stint as Senior Vice President at the US studio giant ViacomCBS. There, Cally oversaw a multi-million dollar budget for brands including Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount. If you want someone to blame for bringing South Park and SpongeBob SquarePants to the world, you need look no further. It was while working for Comedy Central that Cally was nudged into the sphere of performance after a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers, then 81, and so it was that as a 45 year old single parent, Cally first took to the stage. She quickly cemented her position as one of the most exciting and original new stand-ups in the country, with her unflinching, acerbic and clever brand of comedy. Her television appearances to date include being a regular panellist on BBC2’s QI and The Apprentice: You’re Fired, as well as featuring on: Live At The Apollo, Pointless Celebrities, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Countdown’s Dictionary Corner and The Blame Game. She is popular with BBC Radio 4 audiences where her appearances include: The Now Show, The Unbelievable Truth, Saturday Live, Museum Of Curiosity, PM and Woman’s Hour. She is also a regular contributor on Radio 5 Live, Times Radio, Scala Radio and BBC London. ​ In 2021, Cally launched Namaste Motherf**kers, the only podcast where the worlds of comedy, self-help and business collide. With the help of celebrity guests and experts, Cally gets to the stories you’ve never heard before – uncovering not your normal life lessons, but some big ones nonetheless, bringing heart and humour into the worlds of work and wellbeing. She is working on a book, incorporating her own insights alongside the life hacks and confessions of her celebrity guests. Cally has also written for The Guardian and The Financial Times and is one of the country’s most highly-regarded keynote and after-dinner speakers, and an experienced and accomplished awards host. Instagram/Twitter: @Callybeatoncomedian  

Otiz Cannelloni combines the illusion of magic and the wit of stand up to produce a hybrid comic creation. With a mind more suited to testing crash helmets, his performance fluctuates between sheer genius and downright stupidity. Just when you suspect he doesn’t have a clue, Cannelloni removes all doubt. When this man is on stage the dressing room empties, as the rest of the comics rush to watch and learn from his mistakes. It’s taken years of practice to make something so simple look so difficult.  Despite various television appearances – The Stand Up Show BBC 1, Stuff The White Rabbit BBC 2  - producers are prepared to forgive and forget, mostly forget. Still, there’s always the alloment - if it stops raining!   Voted most popular act to appear at Ludgershall's Comedy Club ever.   PRESS QUOTES  “Master of Mirth and Minimalist Magic …Delightful.”  TIME OUT  “A magical Wag. Bewitching.”  THE GUARDIAN     “Sheer hilarity that clearly no one wanted to see end.”  THE STAGE  “A laugh a minute.”  THE AGE. MELBOURNE. AUSTRALIA  “Don’t we have laws against this sort of thing?”  SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST  “The highlight of the night....the downbeat patter is exemplary, full of self-deprecating asides and splendidly daft one-liners.”  CHORTLE …………………………………………… “Beautifully understated gags, wonderful English self-deprecation… silly like a supply teacher on his last day.”  MILTON JONES “Otiz was excellent - the best act of the night.” Porters Park Golf Club. www.Otizcannelloni.com Facebook: Otiz Cannelloni

Don Biswas is one of the gems of the circuit. A politically charged gag merchant who likes to cover a wide range of subjects including his Asian upbringing, his neurodiversity as someone with dyspraxia, ADHD, and ASD and even the most important of topics.. conspiracy theories. Don has gained huge admiration off all corners of the circuit. Don is now a regular face in comedy clubs across the UK. Alongside that Don recently recorded a comedy special for BBC Radio 4 entitled ‘Neurotopical’ and has appeared on Radio 4’s 13 Million Club, Rosie Jones’s Boxticker as well as UKTV Digitals Rosie Jones’s Disabled Comedy Extravaganza and BBC Onlines Future Food Stars His unique style has seen him support John Williams on tour, perform in the USA  (Silicon Valley & New York) & Switzerland. Tick-Tock & Instagram: @Donbiswascomedy Website: www.DonBiswas.com

Dave Bailey is a twice BBC New Comedy Awards Nominated Comedian who combines Observational Storytelling with improv. He has performed at various Comedy Festivals and Comedy Clubs across the UK. Pick of the Brighton Fringe Show (Twice during the Festival) Dave is a natural Comedian with a dry wit, observational material and an effortless improviser. Twitter @DaveBaileyComic

Damian is a professional stand up comic, although his friends would probably describe him as an unfunny, deluded prick. He did his first few gigs in Japan years ago when he lived in Tokyo, working as an English teacher and translator. He returned to the UK in 2008 and started working regularly on the UK circuit from 2009. Since then he has performed up and down the country, been in several competition finals, run a few gigs and has been at Edinburgh, Leicester and Brighton fringe festivals although his first one-hour solo show, Knock Knock, will be in 2016. He made the leap into full-time comedy in 2015. Style-wise, he mainly does stories and anecdotal material. COMPETITIONS WeGotTickets Brighton Fringe New Act Second Place 2012 Last Minute Comedy New Act of the Year Second Place 2012 Henlow New Comedian of the Year Joint Winner 2012 Laughing Horse New Act of the Year Finalist 2011 Up the Creek Best of the Best New Acts Showcase 2011 Bath Comedy Festival New Act of the Year finalist 2009 Newbury Comedy Festival New Act of the Year finalist 2009 Comedy Cafe Weekly New Act Competition winner x 4 REVIEWS “Well-evoked anecdotal material drawn from his own embarrassments and inadequacies are the mainstay, delivered with a cadence similar to that of observational wunderkind Seann Walsh. The set’s powered by punchlines” – Chortle “Kingsley made us roar with his witty routines about life, love and general embarrassment, throwing in a few brilliant metaphors and mixing them through his intelligent comedy. ” – Broadway Baby, Edinburgh Fringe 2012 “A considerable talent, with strong anecdotal humour” – Three Weeks, Edinburgh 2011

Craig Deeley is a Birmingham-based stand-up who has crafted his art form over the last ten years. Craig's repertoire is one of anecdotal observational comedy, combining humble self-mockery and tapping into the ridiculousness of modern life and everyday occurrences that we all recognise. Quotes ”Craig had to headline for us - unexpectedly. He did us proud - our audience enjoyed his whole act.” – John Elson, King Knut’s, Peterborough “Charming Brummie with a nice take on life” - Gay Times "His easy, confident delivery showed genuine potential. We reckon he's one to watch. " - Last Laugh, Sheffield "What a revelation - really good - great material" - Cheeky Monkey "His 15 minutes were over far too quickly" - BBC Birmingham "Has a natural manner on stage and some very funny observational material. One of the best new stand-ups to emerge in Brum" - Andy White, Bear Tavern "...even warranted a mention from Mr Carrott." - Karen Bayley, Comedy Junction

Ben started stand up comedy in 2008 and quickly established himself as one of the hardest working comedians in the country. In his first year he made it to the final of The Hilarity Bites new act competition and won 2 Fun House Comedy Gong Shows. His likeable stage presence and sharp material has made him in demand as an act and compere up and down the country and saw him reach the Final of the Midlands Comedian of the Year Award in 2011. Open and honest in his material he has progressed onto paid 15's and 20's and is a solid compere for any club. 2015 saw Ben reach the Final of the English Comedian of the Year Competition held in The Udderbelly at The South Bank in London. Ben has appeared at the Birmingham, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Leicester Comedy Festivals and debuted his first hour show, 'Solo Traveller' in 2012 at the Leicester Comedy Festival to a sell out audience and great reviews. In 2013 Ben was back at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival with another sell out show, 'All Growed Up' and returned in 2014 with a new hour long show, 'the evolution of me (whoever that is) and 2015 with a new hour 'its not all about you' which both sold out. Quotes - - 'Inherently appealing style' - Steve Bennett - Chortle - 'Absolutely stormed it' - Juice Comedy - 'Good Jokes. Great Comfortable performer' - Midlands Comedian of the Year Final - 'Quick witted and well constructed jokes' - Speak Easy Comedy - 'Ben Briggs goes first and storms it' - The Gag Factory - 'a very strong and confident performer, with great material, which he delivers excellently' Creative Cows Comedy - 'one of the best new acts i've seen for a long time. Great material and full of lively winning charm' - Ship of Fools Comedy and HaHaHarborough Midlands Comedy Awards 2015 - Best Act - Nominated English Comedian of the Year 2015 - Finalist Midlands Comedy Awards 2014 - Best Act - Nominated Midlands Comedian of the Year 2011 - Finalist Fun House Comedy Champion of Champions 2009 - Finalist Fun House Comedy Gong Show Winner x 2 - 2008 Hilarity Bites New Act 2008 - Finalist

Jamie has been up and down the country delighting audiences with his easy charm and quirky wit. After doing his critically acclaimed first hour at Edinburgh in 2019, a unique teacher’s perspective from the front line of a North West London high school – he sold out 2 shows at Vault festival and is currently working on his follow up show.  “Sharp observations and a keen eye for the absurb”- Jen Brister “Put everything down, take a deep breath and go see Jamie Oliphant” – Deadline News

Nicole specialises in a unique blend of improv and written material, creating a show that you won’t want to miss.  She is like the Kinder Egg of comedians.  You don’t know quite what you’ll get but it will definitely be a great surprise.   Nicole was the first woman to win Jewish Comedian of the Year in 2016 and has since gone on to be a finalist in the New Act of The Year competition in 2019 performing at the Hackney Empire.  In the same year Nicole was selected to host the prestigious AAA Stand Up Late show at the Gilded Balloon and is making a name for herself as ‘one to watch’ on the comedy circuit.   “Taking Laughter to the Next Level” (Jewish Chronicle) “Works a room like no other” (Fulham Comedy Club) “Can’t explain the amazing energy Nicole creates in a room..needs to be seen” (Pear Face Comedy Club)

ALI WOODS Hackney Empire New Act of the Year 2020 BBC New Comedian of the Year 2018 Nominee Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year 2017 Runner Up  Yellow Comedy Young Comedian of the Year 2017 Finalist   "In a world full of wannabes, Woods is the real deal" London Evening Standard   "wins over the crowd with his vigour... a club-ready comic" Chortle   "More show than bro, Ali is a new and original voice in comedy, and a much needed one given the current climate; check him out!" Dane Baptiste   @aliwoodsgigs