Arthur Haynes, an English comic, headlined The Arthur Haynes Show—a sketch‑comedy series produced by ATV that ran from 1956 until his death from a heart attack in 1966. He also worked in radio and appeared in films.
Brian Arthur John Smith was born in Bermondsey, south London, on November 27, 1954. He is a comedian, presenter, actor, and writer, considered one of the originals of the British alternative comedy scene. Earning a 2:1 BA in Comparative Literature from the University of East Anglia in 1976, he entered the stand-up comedy world during the 1980s. He has consistently appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe comedy festival since 1977, earning recognition including the Panel Prize in 2007 and the Spirit of The Fringe Award. Smith’s work spans various media. He co-wrote the play 'An Evening with Gary Lineker' with Chris England, which received an Olivier Award nomination and was later adapted into a TV film. In addition to his stand-up, he developed musical comedy programs including 'Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen,' and co-created the parody documentary series 'Arthur and Phil Go Off' (1985) with Phil Nice. His acting credits include roles in television series like 'Grumpy Old Men’ (BBC), an episode of 'The Bill' (1989), and the 'Red Dwarf' episode 'Backwards'. He has voiced characters in animated productions, including 'Ident' (1989) by Aardman Animations, and several animated television shows like 'The Animal Train', 'Rex the Runt', and 'Romuald the Reindeer'. In 2006, he took on the role of ‘Clarrie’ in the Doctor Who audio drama, 'The Kingmaker'. He has written numerous books, including 'Trench Kiss' (1990), 'Pointless Hoax' (1997), 'Sit-Down Comedy' (2003), 'That Which Is Not Said' (2006), the autobiography 'My Name is Daphne Fairfax' (2009), and his latest, '100 Things I Meant To Tell You'. Currently, Arthur Smith continues to perform frequently at comedy clubs, theatres, festivals, and private events, often travelling from Somerset. He presents BBC Radio 4 programs like 'Excess Baggage' and 'The Smith Lectures', and hosts 'The Comedy Club' on BBC Radio 4 Extra, as well as narrating 'Money for Nothing'. He has also been a guest on shows such as 'QI', ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘They Think It’s All Over’, and ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’. He is presently nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Reviewers characterize his comedy as a 'charmingly laconic blend of aphorisms, wry one-liners, poetry, and audience participation,' and he frequently delivers 30-minute performances adaptable to a range of occasions.
Hailing from England, Ava Beverley Vidal pursues a career in comedy. She was featured on E4’s television series Kings of Comedy. Vidal’s comedic debut took place on the BBC’s Urban Sketch Show.
Bridget Louise Christie, an English comedian, actress and writer, has created and headlined comedy tours while also working in radio and television, and her efforts have earned her a BAFTA nomination.
Cariad Lloyd is a British professional with diverse talents, including comedy, acting, writing, and podcasting. Born in North London in 1983, her family background includes a father who ran his own business and a mother who grew up in the East End of London. Her older brother is four years older than she is. Her parents were involved with the EST organisation and visited Findhorn, reflecting a certain openness to alternative philosophies. From a very young age, she felt drawn to performance; witnessing Lady Macbeth at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre at age 4 sparked a desire to act. The loss of her father to pancreatic cancer in April 1998, when she was fifteen, significantly impacted her life and occurred shortly before she took her GCSE exams. At the University of Sussex, Lloyd studied English literature and there, she encountered Sara Pascoe, with whom she subsequently worked as a tour guide. Following university, she briefly held a job at a call center, but was dismissed for impersonating accents. Her early comedy work included sketches on BBC Comedy Online, appearing in shows like Funtime, The Proposal, and Dirty Dancing, as well as television appearances in Cardinal Burns and Fit. In 2014, Lloyd created and starred in her own comedy pilot titled The Cariad Show. Since 2014, Lloyd's commitment to regional comedy is evident through her regular involvement with the BBC Radio Wales program Here Be Dragons. Cariad Lloyd’s career encompasses various comedic forms. She is a member of Austentatious, an improvisational comedy group that performs plays in the style of Jane Austen, often featuring full Regency costumes and live music; Austentatious won a Chortle Award in 2014. Receiving considerable recognition, the Griefcast podcast secured several awards, including Best Entertainment Podcast and Podcast of the Year at the British Podcast Awards, plus an ARIA Award for Best Podcast. Early in her career, Lloyd was recognized through a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2011 for Lady Cariad's Characters, and she also secured the Edtwinge award that year. She has become a frequent guest on popular panel shows such as QI (appearing in 16 episodes as of October 2026), Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You?, The News Quiz, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Her performance credits include a role within the final season of Peep Show, and she was also featured as a guest on Sara Pascoe’s comedy series Out of Her Mind. In March 2021, Lloyd hosted the BBC Radio 4 program What Have We Learnt About Grief? Serving presently on the Wales team for Round Britain Quiz, Lloyd co-hosts ‘Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club’ alongside Sara Pascoe, aiming to cultivate a welcoming space for those who feel different. A contract for five books was finalized with Hachette Children's Group in November 2023, signaling a move into children's literature, while she remains engaged in joint ventures like ‘The Christmas Wish-tastrophe’.
Charles Coborn, born Colin Whitton McCallum in Stepney, East London in 1852, was a British music hall singer and comedian. He adopted the stage name Charles Coborn, drawing inspiration from Coborn Road near Mile End. His career began in 1872 with a debut on the Isle of Dogs. By the late 1870s, he quickly gained recognition, being billed as 'The Comic of the Day' at the Oxford Music Hall and known for his energetic performances that could reportedly fill large venues like Spurgeon’s tabernacle or Olympia. In 1886, he famously rewrote William J. Scanlan’s song "My Nellie’s Blue Eyes" into “Two Lovely Black Eyes,” a piece that became a signature song for him. He performed “Two Lovely Black Eyes” at the Paragon Theatre on the Mile End Road in London, even blacking his eyes for the premiere. The song proved popular with audiences throughout London. Another song he is remembered for is "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo," which he acquired the rights to in 1891. Initially hesitant about performing it due to its complexity, Coborn ultimately performed this song extensively worldwide. “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” became a defining element of his career; he estimated performing it around 250,000 times and singing it in 14 languages. Coborn toured extensively, including visits to New York City and Toronto in 1900. He appeared in several films late in his life, notably Say It With Flowers (1934) and Variety Jubilee (1943), the latter at the remarkable age of 91. Charles Coborn died in London in 1945 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery. His son, Duncan McCallum, later served as a Member of Parliament.
Born Cecil Victor Manser in Eastbourne in 1913, Charlie Chester was an English comedian, writer, and television and radio presenter who frequently appeared on broadcasts between the 1940s and the 1990s. His early life included working as a grocer's errand boy and later as a travelling salesman. Before embarking on a professional performance career as a teenager, Cecil Victor Manser achieved success in 82 talent contests, including a seven-year-old victory at an Eastbourne Winter Gardens children's competition. He initially developed an attractive yodel in his teens and performed under the name Duke Daly by the age of seventeen. These early experiences helped him realize his talent for speaking, leading him to become a professional comedian. Comparisons between Charlie Chester’s comedic style and that of Max Miller initially created friction; for example, Max Miller once attended one of Chester’s shows accompanied by his lawyer. He became known as 'Cheerful' Charlie Chester and gained prominence through the BBC radio show Stand Easy , which he wrote and performed as Studio Stand Easy . This series was adapted into The Charlie Chester Show on television in 1949, a long-running program featuring frequent cast members such as Edwina Carroll, Henry Lytton Jr., Eric ‘Jeeves’ Grier, Len Lowe, Deryck Guyler, Len Marten, Arthur Haynes and Frederick Ferrari. The show included a recurring mini-serial called 'Whippit Kwik the Cat Burglar' and featured signature tunes like “Shoot the Khaki To Me” and sound effects songs. Chester also wrote "When Love Descended like an Angel" for tenor St Clair, later performed by Frederick Ferrari. Throughout his 65-year career, Charlie Chester hosted numerous radio shows including A Proper Charlie , That Man Chester , Pot Luck , and Sunday Soapbox from 1972 until 1995. He also presented a record show on BBC Radio 2 from 1970 to 1995. His appearances extended beyond radio and television, including starring in Charlie Chester On Laughter Service (1961) which visited military bases and appearing in films such as Holiday Camp (1947), Top of the Bill (1971) where he played Max Miller, and Can I Come Too (1979). During World War II, Chester held the rank of sergeant in the Royal Irish Fusiliers and provided entertainment for soldiers through the Stars in Battledress army program. Chester received an MBE in 1990 for charitable services and wrote an autobiography, The World Is Full of Charlies , in 1974. He appeared in 'This Is Your Life' in 1961, a surprise orchestrated with the help of Eric Maschwitz and his wife, Dorita, and died in 1997.
Charlie Chuck, whose birth name is David Kear, is a comedian originating from Burmantofts, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He was born on April 21, 1946. He performs under the stage name Charlie Chuck, as confirmed by multiple sources. His career began in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a drummer for various bands, including the Amazing Bavarian Stompers and, at one point, the Small Faces. In 1981, the children's television program *Tiswas* featured a performance by The Amazing Bavarian Stompers. Transitioning to solo stand-up comedy in the late 1980s, Charlie Chuck developed a distinctive stage act. Frequently, his stage shows included smashing a drum kit and contained allusions to imaginary beings like One-Eyed Dog, Cakey Pig, and a donkey. Malcolm Hardee recognized his talent in 1990 and secured an appearance for him on Jools Holland's Happening . Subsequently, DJ James Whale booked him for several editions of The James Whale Radio Show after spotting him on Sky Star Search . He was also a cast member of the BBC Two series The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer from 1993 to 1995, playing the role of 'Uncle Peter'. His work has included guest appearances on the children’s show Scratchy & Co. between 1995 and 1998. Charlie Chuck's career has extended beyond live performance and television. He appeared in Cadbury's Double Decker chocolate bar TV adverts in 2001, and starred in Charlie Chuck is Scrooge at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002. He directed Ian Watt’s one-man show John Laurie, Frazer & I that same year. He has also appeared in films such as Bait (2014), Attack of the Adult Babies (2017), and the Leeds-based Boy Called Bremner (2014), and a TV film called Teddy in 2012. He is listed as a comedian on Chortle.co.uk, and has performed at Malcolm Hardee’s Up The Creek comedy club, as well as participating in memorial shows for Malcolm Hardee, including one at the Hackney Empire in 2006. He was also present at Glastonbury Festival, where Hardee's antics were known. During 2022, he took on the role of Uncle Charlie for one episode of *Mandy*.
Regina Obedapo Iyashere, better known on stage as Gina Yashere, works as a British comedian, actress and writer and has featured repeatedly on television programmes across the UK and the US. She was one of the creators of the American comedy series Bob Hearts Abishola, in which she also holds a supporting character.
Roisin Marcella Conaty, a performer with both British and Irish roots, works as a comedian, actress and writer. In 2010 she captured the Edinburgh Festival’s Best Newcomer prize for her show Hero, Warrior, Fireman, Liar. Between 2013 and 2017 she portrayed Jo in Channel 4’s sitcom Man Down. The pilot for GameFace—a sitcom she conceived, scripted, headlined and executive‑produced—first aired on Channel 4 in early 2014. The series debuted in 2017, broadcasting on E4 in the UK and on Hulu in the United States, with a second season following on Channel 4 and Hulu in July 2019. Heat magazine named her the “Unmissables Comedian of the Year” in 2019. She also appeared as Roxy in the first two seasons of Netflix’s comedy‑drama After Life.
Sarah Jane Millican, an English comic, captured the Best Newcomer prize at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In February 2013, Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour placed her on its list of the United Kingdom’s hundred most powerful women, and that same year she married fellow humorist Gary Delaney. Her debut publication, How to Be Champion, appeared in 2017. Among her honors are two Chortle Awards, a British Comedy Award and two BAFTA nominations.
Shazia Mirza is a British comedian, actress and writer who has made her name through stand‑up performances and by publishing articles in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.
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The United Kingdom has a long and influential comedy tradition, producing comedians who have become popular not only across Britain but around the world. From stand-up comedians and comedy actors to television personalities, writers and performers, British comedy covers a huge range of styles and formats.
At GiggleTime, we bring together profiles of British comedians, UK comedians, comedy actors and other personalities connected to the world of comedy and entertainment. Browse the profiles above to discover more about their careers, performances and contributions to the British comedy scene.
Stand-up comedy is an important part of the British comedy scene, with comedians performing everywhere from dedicated comedy clubs and theatres to festivals, pubs and large entertainment venues.
British stand-up covers a wide variety of styles. Some comedians focus on observational comedy and everyday experiences, while others explore storytelling, satire, political and social subjects, absurd humour or personal experiences. The UK's comedy circuit has also provided a platform for many comedians who later became familiar faces on television, radio and streaming platforms.
London is one of the UK's major comedy hubs, but stand-up comedy can be found throughout the country, with active comedy scenes in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool and many others.
The UK has produced generations of comedians who have become well known through television, film, radio, theatre and live comedy.
Some British comedians are best known for their stand-up performances, while others have built their careers through sitcoms, sketch shows, panel shows, comedy films or fictional characters. Many have also worked across several areas of entertainment, combining performing with writing, acting, presenting or producing.
British comedy has also had a significant international influence. UK comedians and comedy programmes have developed audiences around the world, while British comedy formats and styles have been adapted for audiences in other countries.
Television has played a major role in the development of modern British comedy. Sketch shows, sitcoms, panel shows, comedy series and satirical programmes have introduced generations of viewers to new comedians and performers.
British comedy can also be found across film, radio, podcasts and online platforms. Today, comedians can build audiences through YouTube, social media, podcasts and streaming services alongside traditional television and live performances.
This combination of traditional and digital media has created opportunities for both established comedians and emerging performers to reach audiences across the UK and beyond.
Explore our collection of British comedians and comedy personalities above and discover performers from different generations and areas of the UK comedy scene.
You can use the search feature to find a particular comedian or browse the directory to discover new names. Individual profiles may include biographical information, career details, performances, photographs and other interesting facts.
Whether you are looking for British stand-up comedians, famous UK comedians, comedy actors, television comedians or emerging comedy talent, GiggleTime makes it easy to discover more comedians from the United Kingdom.
The directory continues to grow as new comedians and comedy personalities are added.
