Financial woes flagged up to Charity Commission

The company behind Leicester Comedy Festival has submitted a ‘serious incident report’ to the Charity Commission over its ongoing financial issues.

Charities are obligated to flag up problems that pose a significant risk to their operation or reputation, including financial ones. The regulator told the BBC it was assessing the concerns raised by the Big Difference Company.

The company's financial woes became apparent in April, when Chortle was first to report that comedians claimed they remained unpaid following February’s festival.

A subsequent outdoor summer gig was cancelled and earlier this month the High Street venue managed by the charity, also called The Big Difference, was repossessed over non-payment of rent. 

Once a serious incident report is submitted, it is the Charity Commission's role to ensure that trustees comply with their legal duties and that charities manage the incident responsibly. It may offer advice or intervene.

When the financial issues first emerged, the Big Difference Company said they aimed to pay all performers as soon as possible, blaming cashflow problems for the delay.

Performers union Equity has helped a small handful of comedians get the money they are owed from ticket sales from the event, while The Live Comedy Association created a hardship fund to help out.

However, details have been scant as to how many performers still remain unpaid and any timetable for settling debts. 

Equity’s Midlands official Ian Manborde said: ‘The problems with the company running Leicester Comedy Festival are terrible news for the many performers and other workers who are yet to be paid for their work this year.

‘The Festival is a significant date in the comedy calendar and attracts big numbers of performers, but we knew there was a problem when so many were getting in touch about unpaid gigs. We want to see performers paid for their work.’

Anthony Lamb, the former manager of The Big Difference venue and better known as Big Tony, has raised more than £18,000 in crowdfunding to reopen the space under the new name Forum Porcorum. The donation site is here.

Chortle has approached The Big Difference Company chief executive Michael Harris-Wakelam for comment.

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Published: 21 Jul 2026