Industry-wide celebration set for April 1

Star-name comics are lending their support to the first Live Comedy Day, celebrating the contribution the industry makes to culture.

Joe Lycett, Nish Kumar, Sindhu Vee, Maisie Adam, Chris McCausland, Slim and Daliso Chaponda have all signed up to be ambassadors for the day – April 1 – which aims to champion grassroots venues

Lycett said: ‘It’s very important to support grassroots venues. Roy Walker told me that "you don’t learn to be funny when they’re laughing" - what a name drop that is! What he means by that is, to me, you need to be in tough rooms where they’re looking at you going "what is this?" And then in the desperation you find funny. 

‘We need more, small, brilliant little comedy clubs. I’m playing quite a few at the minute and I’m loving it. To learn your craft, to bring new talent up and to maybe see some people you’ve maybe seen off the telly in small, intimate environments, it’s really important. We’re losing comedy clubs, we gotta keep them kids! Keep watching comedy, stay cool!"

Kumar explained why he was backing the ‘amazing celebration of grassroots UK live comedy’.  ‘We don’t do a lot of things well in Britain; our food is disgusting, and a lot of people don’t know how to express their emotions, and our history is sometimes suspect,’ he said. ‘However live comedy is something we are genuinely world beating at.  

‘The ecosystem that exists, our grassroots live comedy clubs, festivals and promoters, where future arena comics learn their craft, is world beating.  Please check out participating venues and shows near you and support Live Comedy Day on April 1.’

Venues around the country will be staging events to mark the occasion. t is estimated that there are almost 700 regular comedy clubs operating across the UK – and Live Comedy Day will promote all those happening on April 1. Anyone running an event on that day can register it here. 

The Live Comedy Association, which is organising the day, is encouraging promoters and venues to mark the day in distinctive ways, from hosting one-off performances or free shows, to staging special events that highlight the role live comedy plays in local communities.

As Chortle previously reported, Radio 4 is backing the initiative from by recording a series of stand-up specials in comedy clubs, to be titled Live From The UK. The series will culminate in an extended episode at 9pm on April 1.

Live Comedy Day ambassador Sindhu Vee said: ‘In order to do what I do now I had to start somewhere and that was open mic nights and other opportunities to be on stage.  It involved a number of people, promoters, venues and festival organisers – without that I don’t think I could have become a comic. The atmosphere of those small grassroots gigs is so amazing, and the interaction between the performers and the audience is vital to learn and grow as a performer."

Chris McCausland added: ‘I’ve been a comedian for over 20 years and that’s because of the amazing UK grassroots live comedy scene. I did the open mic circuit for a couple of years before going professional and went on to earn my bread and butter.  

‘Even now as a comedian who tours bigger venues, I return to the grassroots circuit to try out new material and experiment with new ideas.  Live Comedy Day is about promoting this amazing circuit which is the best in the world.  Check out what is going on, look on the website, and get out there and support live comedy.'

And Daliso Chaponda said: ‘Live comedy is such an amazing thing.  It helps you get through the hard times. Also the great thing about comedy is whatever is weird about you, whatever makes you not fit in, in any other sphere would be a negative, but in comedy is a positive.  From one weirdo to all you weirdos out there, support live comedy day!’ 

Published: 12 Feb 2026