Dominic Holland
Dominic Holland has performed five solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival; his first, in 1993, winning him the Perrier best newcomer award. He was nominated for the main prize three years later.
In 2000 he landed his own Radio 4 show, The Small World of Dominic Holland, which he followed up wth Holland Shorts in 2006.
On TV, he played a writer in both series of BBC3's Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive - and has been a genuine writer for Harry Enfield, Lenny Henry and Clive Anderson. His first novel, Only In America, was published in 2002, and his follow-up, The Ripple Effect, the following year.
He also regularly turns up as a panellist on such shows as Five's The Wright Stuff, Have I Got News For You, The Des O'Connor Show and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
Dominic Holland Videos
Reviews
Dominic Holland at Latitude 2010
We don’t see much of veteran stand-up Dominic Holland on the circuit any more. Perhaps he’s too busy writing films that, by his own admission, probably won’t get made, or perhaps because his son Tom is playing Billy Elliot in the West End, the Holland family hardly need the extra cash.
At this Latitude appearance, ahead of a half-run at the Edinburgh Fringe next month, he showed some of the distinctive flair that made him one of Britain’s most astute observational acts… as well as some signs that he’s a little gig-rusty.
Being a 43-year-old father of four, you can perhaps forgive him for not wanting to hit the local Giggle Garage every night of the week. But his family has given some of his best routines, even amid a crowded field of ‘hapless dad’ chunks as the once-young vanguard of comedians advance into middle age.
read more of this review …
Holland’s segment about getting his lads changed in a cramped swimming pool cubicle has the sort of first-hand frustration that can’t be faked, while his depictions of picking out dog shit from a youngster’s trainers invokes tears of laughter and recognition.
Not all of the set is this assured. There’s well-worn jokes about chavs wearing tracksuits but hardly looking sporting, while sometimes he overplays the grumpy old man card, muttering about new-fangled phones as if he’d only ever seen them with dials on until now.
But even then he eventually winkles out the laughs, even if occasionally he has to address the fact a few of the punchlines en route don’t quite hit the mark.
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Dominic Holland Dates
Sat 29 Jun 2013
- Comedy Shuffle
- 20:30~22:30
- £15 (£12 advance)
- John Moloney, Seann Walsh, Dominic Holland (MC)
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Older Comments
Riera - 20/03/2010
He's the comedy equivalent of the embarassing jumper given to you at Xmas by your mum. Safe and unadventurous.
John Allison - 18/08/2006
Dominic was absolutely brilliant at this year's Edinburgh festival. Razor sharp observational humour from a genuine craftsman. Easily our favourite comedy act out of 6 we've seen so far. Keep up the brilliant work Dom.
Bill Halsall - 17/05/2006
I listen to him on radio quite frequently. I think he's funny and I understand his jokes, despite being nearly 70 and not a thirty something - whatever that means. Easy humour with an incisive edge.
Derek Shakespeare - 01/11/2005
A genuinely funny guy. Best of luck to him
Alaric Dynevor - 25/10/2005
Just saw him deliver some perfectly written and cared-for lines to an audience that were very hard to please tonight. Far too lazy to dismiss Dominic as safe as it takes guts to believe in a well written gag that may burn slowly rather than pander to a 'drugs and wet patch' audience. Some of his lines tonight were as good as I have heard all year.
John Clarek - 24/10/2005
Brilliant. Funniest act that I've seen for years.
Nelson - 11/11/2004
Safe comedy with a capital 'S' and 'C'.
Nicola Wren - 11/10/2004
He just gets better and better.
Gerry Keaveney - 29/08/2004
Horrible, horrible stuff. He has worked out what makes appears to make people laugh, applied the formula and the manufactured his product for mass consumption.
Bernard - 25/05/2004
Not impressed. About as funny as rabies in a guide dog home.
Sue - 05/03/2004
An excellent evening. Lots of laughs. Gentle humour, not malign or blue. I sat down in a huff and emerged with the warm glow of a smile. Thank you.
Jim Levack - 07/01/2004
Just read his books...brilliant, funny, easy to read and with superb sitcom style plots.
Dave - 02/11/2003
Honestly don't think he's very good. He's been doing the same gags for ages and they're only average.
Rebecca Cope - 05/08/2003
Seriously funny guy. I saw him at Blackfriars in Boston a while back, he was amazing. So funny in fact that I bought both his books, and they are as brilliant as I had hoped. An extraordinary comedian that deserves every bit of praise and fame. Nice one
Ian Fareham - 06/07/2003
Great show, Dominic handled the drunk women very well and kept his cool - they really were a pain but he overcame with a single swear word - well done. Fantastic show.
Grem - 14/05/2003
I saw Dominic as a raw youngster back in the 0203 Comedy Club in Coventry in 1993. I am thankful that he has develope into one of the funniest acts I have seen in a long time.... he's taken his time but he's got there
Pete Shields - 09/04/2003
Warm, genuine friendly guy. Good natured banter with audience. Like most observational humour it only works if you can empathise with him, so for most of his material you need to be a 20- or 30-something, in a long-term relationship. If you fit the bracket then this guy is very funny. We recorded his R4 series and still listen and still laugh out loud
Pete - 26/02/2003
A smug, eminently punchable loser with ten bad jokes for every good one. There is a reason why he only ever graces the worst panel game shows around.
David Cross - 17/12/2002
Just saw him in a superb show in Newcastle. Great routines, and ad libbed with the (good natured) heckling superbly. One or two jokes fell flat, but otherwise was a genuinely warm and funny performance.