Five more comedians become Live Comedy Day ambassadors

Including Shaparak Khorsandi and Mark Watson

Five more comics have signed up to be ambassadors for Live Comedy Day on April 1.

Shaparak Khorsandi, Mark Watson, Ignacio Lopez, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Kiri Pritchard-McLean have all lent their support for the first nationwide celebration of the sector.

They join the previously announced Joe Lycett, Maisie Adam, Chris McCausland, Daliso Chaponda, Slim, Sindhu Vee and Nish Kumar.

Khorsandi said the day was long overdue. ‘Stand-up comedy is a medium that requires the grassroots circuit,’ she said. ‘That’s where I came up – it’s where all the comics that you love came up, on the comedy circuit at festivals, at rooms above pubs. It is the most exciting place to go as a punter, to go as a comedian and to learn your craft.’

Live Comedy Day was set up by the Live Comedy Association, a not-for-profit body, to mark the contribution of live comedy to the UK economy. reckoned at more than £1 billion a year. The day is intended to become an annual fixture and has the backing of BBC Radio 4, which will tie in programming to the date.

Shows being promoted as part of the day include James Acaster at Hackney Empire, John Bishop at Komedia Bath – which goes on sale today – and Nick Mohammed at the London Palladium, as well as more grassroots events.

Any comedy show taking place on April 1 can be registered free at Shaparak Khorsandi, Mark Watson, Ignacio Lopez, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Kiri Pritchard-McLean have all lent their support for the first nationwide celebration of the sector. They join the previously announced Joe Lycett, Maisie Adam, Chris McCausland, Daliso Chaponda, Slim, Sindhu Vee and Nish Kumar. Khorsandi said the day was long overdue. ‘Stand-up comedy is a medium that requires the grassroots circuit,’ she said. ‘That’s where I came up – it’s where all the comics that you love came up, on the comedy circuit at festivals, at rooms above pubs. It is the most exciting place to go as a punter, to go as a comedian and to learn your craft.’ Live Comedy Day was set up by the Live Comedy Association, a not-for-profit body, to mark the contribution of live comedy to the UK economy. reckoned at more than £1 billion a year. The day is intended to become an annual fixture and has the backing of BBC Radio 4, which will tie in programming to the date. Shows being promoted as part of the day are James Acaster at Hackney Empire, John Bishop at Komedia Bath – which goes on sale today – and Nick Mohammed at the London Palladium, as well as more grassroots events. Any comedy show taking place on April 1 can be registered free at livecomedyday.co.uk and included in the national listings.">livecomedyday.co.uk and included in the national listings.