Top 10 British Stand Ups

British comedy is on the rise and with a whole host of new stand up television panel and live stand up shows, now could be the best time to get involved.

Before you book those comedy tickets, though, make sure you check out our list of some of the best stand-ups on the circuit at the moment.

10. JASPER CARROTT

Straight out of one the hottest locations in Britain for comedy Birmingham is Carrott's old stomping ground. While he hasn't toured since 2007, you can see him regularly on ITV's Goldenballs quiz show. Rumour has it that Carrott is planning a return to the stage in the near future and with his blend of unique witty stories and hilarious quips, Carrott will have punters of all ages roaring with laughter.

9. LEE EVANS

Evans may not be everyone's cup of tea, but his tours sell out in minutes often over a year before they are due to happen. He is probably one of Britain's most popular stand ups with his blend of one-liners and outrageous stage presence.

8. PETER KAY

Kay became one of the biggest names in British stand up around the turn of the millennium. Having risen to fame with some fantastic performances at a variety of comedy clubs Edinburgh was the gig that finally brought him to stardom.

He went onto the write and perform in Channel 4's Phoenix Nights and then Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. His DVD, Peter Kay: Live at the Bolton Albert Halls became one of the best selling comedy videos of all time. Kay has recently just embarked on his first tour in seven years.

7. STEWART LEE

Referred to as ‘the comedian's comedian', Lee is well respected across the country. He became a household name following the infamous release of the London stage-show, Jerry Springer: The Opera which Lee co-wrote and directed.

Since then, Lee has had his own BAFTA-nominated stand up show on BBC Two and his mix of dry, condescending humour can have even the most reserved in stitches. A must-see performer.

6. ROSS NOBLE

Now for something completely different. Ross Noble is a comedian who shot to fame after he received a Perrier Award nomination at the 1999 Edinburgh Festival. His rambling, unusual style has often been criticised for appearing to be unplanned and spontaneous. However, many punters have watched Noble on a string of alternate nights and found his act to differ each time.

He may not be for everyone, but he is certainly something a little different from what you would normally expect from the mainstream.

5. BILL BAILEY

It took some time for Bill Bailey to hit the big time, but now he is one of the most respected comics in the UK. Using an infusion of rambling humour and his exceptional musical ability, a Bill Bailey show is often full of insight, amazement and of course, plenty of laughs.

Bailey is best known for his appearances on BBC Two's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, but he usually tours every two to three years. Make sure you catch him next time round.

4. JOHN BISHOP

One of the hottest new comedians on the scene, Liverpudlian Bishop was a late starter on the stand up scene and didn't begin performing until 2000 at the age of 33. He won the North-West Comedian of the Year award the following year and he also managed to make it as a finalist in a host of other events.

It took a few more years for Bishop to finally make it as a household name following his appearances on Channel 4's 8 out of 10 Cats. However, last year he enjoyed a sell-out tour capped with the wonderful success of his first stand up DVD. His mix of scouse humour, sarcasm and wit have won him plaudits across the country.

3. DAVE GORMAN

Dave Gorman became a household name early in the last decade as he trawled the world for the BBC trying to find 52 other people with his own name. This sort of behaviour has become synonymous with Gorman's style as he often uses his own bizarre life experiences as the subject of his humour.

The Stafford-born comic often uses graphs and charts as a device for his laughs and maintains a dry story-like style, giving him a softer edge than most stand ups. Tickets for his shows can be hard to come by as he usually prefers to use smaller venues; if you can get your hands on some though, make sure you do, it'll definitely be worth it.

2. KEVIN BRIDGES

At just 23, Kevin Bridges is one of the youngest comedians to have ever hit the big time. Last year he capped off a rapid rise to fame when he performed to a crowd of 16,000 people.

The young Glaswegian could be described as a sarcastic Peter Kay, in which he uses reminiscences as the subject of the majority of his humour, but unlike Kay, Bridges portrays his memories in a much more subjugated way.

Bridges has no tours planned at the moment following a long 2010 stint, but make sure you keep an eye out for the charismatic Scotsman next time round.

1. JACK DEE

One of the mainstays of British comedy for the last 10 years, Jack Dee is a true professional. Dee last toured in 2009 but he has not called time on his stand up career just yet despite a host of television appearances.

His sarcastic moan-filled humour is timeless and he often spends his time talking about the mundane nature of modern day life.

8 February 2011

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