Insolvent Big Difference Company ceases trading

The company that runs the Leicester Comedy Festival has gone bust – meaning the hundreds of comedians owed money for performing there are likely to go unpaid.

The Big Difference Company has announced ‘with great sadness’ that it had ‘become insolvent and ceased trading’.

The news is not entirely unexpected, but will still come as a blow to performers owed their ticket money from February’s event.  Chortle was the first to report that the company was in financial difficulties back in April – and last month it submitted a ‘serious incident report’ to the Charity Commission, after the venue it also operates was repossessed over unpaid rent.

In a statement sent to the BBC, the company said: ‘For 32 years, [the festival] has been an important part of the cultural and economic life of our region, showcasing comedy talent, attracting visitors, and supporting local businesses and venues.

‘We acknowledge that this news will be deeply disappointing to staff, performers, venues, promoters and supporters. We recognise the significant impact this will have on our employees, performers, venues, suppliers and other creditors, and we are sincerely sorry to all those affected.'

The directors said they ‘worked tirelessly to avoid this outcome’,  but said it was ‘not possible to secure a sustainable future’.

But they added that their financial problems may not be the end of the line for the festival – the biggest of its kind – saying they planned to ‘explore how a sustainable long-term future can be secured for this much-loved festival’.

Reacting to the news, Jessica Toomey, director of the 1,600-member Live Comedy Association, said: ‘We are incredibly sad about the dreadful impact this will have on many of our members and the wider live comedy sector across the UK.  

‘Leicester Comedy Festival has been a beacon of UK live comedy each February since 1994 and has helped develop the careers of many comedians, as well as supporting promoters, venues and the wider comedy community.  Our thoughts are with those people who are still owed money, some of them a considerable amount.’

‘ We also hope that a new festival can emerge from the ashes and help sustain the legacy built up over more than 30 years.’

Michael Day, from the variety branch of performers' union Equity added: 'Despite being widely anticipated, it’s a huge blow to see Leicester Comedy Festival file for insolvency.

'The festival has been a huge feature on the comedy calendar for many years, being the largest comedy-only performance festival and providing hundreds of gigs to both seasoned stand-ups and those seeking to break into the comedy scene. It’s terrible news and leaves many performers unpaid from this year’s festival.
 
'At Equity, we’ve been supporting many comedians who were left unpaid and we have secured payment for several of them. However, getting money owed to comedians will become far more difficult under an insolvency.'

He also called for more protection for performer regarding unpaid fees, adding: 'There would be no festival or gigs without these comedians and it’s grossly unfair that they are the ones left unpaid in this and so many similar situations.'

The Live Comedy Association yesterday launched a fundraising campaign to try to secure £30,000 to support acts, promoters and others  affected by the Big Difference Company’s woes.  It follows the £5,000 which was distributed by the LCA last month. 

Anthony Lamb, the former manager of The Big Difference venue, has raised more than £20,000 from a separate crowdfunder to reopen the building under the name Forum Porcorum.

Published: 5 Aug 2026