COMEDIANS WHO HAVE
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Mo Gilligan
MO GILLIGAN
Fresh from his smash hit global Netflix release, BAFTA nomination and No.1 trending entertainment show on Channel 4, Mo Gilligan has raised the bar once again – announcing a huge World Tour for 2020.
One of the UK’s biggest break out stars is bringing his brand new show: There’s Mo to Life to venues all across the UK, America, Australia and right across Europe.
His debut Netflix Original Stand Up Special Momentum was globally released in 190 countries to huge critical and audience acclaim.
2019 was another hugely successful year for Mo – with numerous award wins and nominations, recoding The Big Narstie Show Series 2 and his landing his own hit Channel 4 series The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. He was named The Funniest Man in Britain by The Times and his debut Coupla Cans stand up tour came to a close selling over 50,000 tickets including a huge two week West End residency.
Performed at BanterBash - Tropicana Beach Club on 09/07/2018
AXEL BLAKE
Over the past decade, Axel Blake has built his reputation, on and offline, as one of the UK’s leading entertainers. His confident and animated persona captivates his audience whether he is delivering stand-up comedy, presenting for the likes of Crep Protect, UNILAD or SBTV, hosting shows or creating his hilarious viral video sketches.
The presenter and social media star, has long established his position in the world of comedy, firstly as a rising star before solidifying his place as a champion comic and robust headliner.
Whilst still young at heart, Axel’s truthful and observational style of stand-up comedy highlights his experience on the scene, the growth of this rounded entertainer has been sensational, with international credits, headline shows up and down the country as well as support slots alongside big names such as Eddie Griffin, Smokey Suarez, Capone, Richard Blackwood, Coco Brown and Joe Torry.
First performed for BanterBash – Funny and Furious on 24/02/2018
Tez Ilyas
Tez Ilyas hit the ground running. In his first three years as a stand up, he found himself in on less than eight competition finals including the prestigious BBC New Comedy Award and Leicester Mercury New Comedian of the Year.
Tez is one of the stars of hit sitcom Man Like Mobeen (BBC Three), and has appeared on Mock The Week (BBC Two), The Last Leg (Channel 4), Live From the BBC (BBC Two), Live from the Comedy Store (Comedy Central), Kevin Hart’s Live from Montreal (LOL Network), Virtually Famous (E4), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4) and starred in both his own Channel 4 comedy pilot, Bounty (which has become the most watched show on the format’s 10 year history), and fronted his own satirical entertainment series, The Tez O’Clock Show (Channel 4), to huge critical acclaim.
Performed at BanterBash – Megaro Bar on 10/12/2019
KAE KURD
Smart, sharp and brilliantly astute, Kae Kurd is a young British-Kurdish stand up making a serious name for himself. Passionate about making politics accessible to his peers, his comedy presents beautifully crafted slick routines with confident cutting edge flair.
2019 was an outstanding year for Kae. He is now recognised as one of the UK’s fastest rising online comedy stars, creating and curating short form content across a range of platforms, particularly notable for this hit podcast Quota’s Full. His debut Stand Up Special Kurd Your Enthusiasm was another huge success with Joe.co.uk’s Creative Director noting “It’s intriguing – and exciting – that a performer with such a slick mainstream swagger is able to weave so many socio-political issues into his act”.
TV credits include Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), Don’t Hate the Playaz as both writer and on screen talent (ITV2), The Tez O’Clock Show (Channel 4), Know Your Rights (Own series on Channel 4 OD), Comedians Solve World Problems (Comedy Central), Three Guys Eat (BBC Three) and BBC Asian Network’s Big Comedy Night.
Performed at BanterBash – Megaro Bar on 28/01/2020
AURIE STYLA
Having started stand-up comedy back in 2010, Aurie has tirelessly honed his craft and his likeable charisma has earned him fans in the thousands.
Starting out as a function host, he quickly became a favourite of many universities across the UK for his easy going nature and quick wit. He was a regular master of ceremonies for both club and comedy nights before deciding to turn his attention solely towards stand-up.
In 2016, Aurie self-produced and toured his first live stand-up comedy special "Working... Hardly!", around the UK, with all dates completely sold out. In 2017, he toured his second "Straight Up!" again with all shows sold out. Due to overwhelming demand, both tours were extended. 2019 saw him finish his third sold out tour ‘Just Like That’.
Aurie currently presents 'The Scene' on BBC Radio London, every Monday night from 8pm - 10pm, where he invites guests from all corners of entertainment to interview and discuss current affairs, with a comical twist. Aurie also is the main presenter on the "No Escapin' This" Podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Music & more. You can also catch Aurie in his element as an avid gamer on the RePlay Gang Livestreams, on Youtube.
First performed at BanterBoat – Pirates of the River Thames on 26/07/2019
Nominated for The Leicester Mercury Comedian of the year in 2016, Travis Jay is a stand-up, actor and radio presenter who has been performing on the comedy circuit since 2009. After winning the Jumpoff TV Comedy competition in 2012 he went on to perform for BBC 1xtra and made an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Stephen K Amos’ Life: an Idiot’s Guide. The biggest highlight of Travis' comedy career was when he shared a stage with legendary comedian Dave Chappelle as a support act back in June 2019.
Eshaan Akbar began performing stand-up in 2014. He made the final of the “So You Think You’re Funny” competition and “Laughing Horse” in the same year. In 2016, he supported Micky Flanagan on his warm up tour. He’s also gone on to support Dane Baptiste, Hal Cuttenden, Rory Bremmer, Jan Ravens and Sindhu Vee. On TV, he has appeared on The Big Asian Stand-Up, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and Mock The Week and has also written for Rob Rinder’s Good Year, Bad Year.
Fast rising young star Babatunde Aléshé is one of the biggest names on the Black British comedy circuit. In 2019, he won the Amused Moose National New Comic Award and was selected to appear on Dave Chapelle’s live showcase The Process, solidifying his place as one of stand-up’s most exciting breakout talents. Alongside all of his achievements, he has also recently announced he will be featured in the new series of Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox alongside Mo Gilligan.
Philéo is an opposition of being defined in only one way. He writes and performs with a surreal approach, telling truthful stories that have made his audiences stand up and applaud, re-think their position, cry, angry and laugh. Philéo has toured in Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Dubai, South Africa and various clubs in America and has also 2 one hour specials on Amazon Prime Video.
Anarchic, unbridled and unfiltered. Russell Hicks is a risk-taking comic whirlwind, captivating audiences everywhere with his razor-sharp wit. From the moment he steps on stage crowds are hooked by his infectiously rebellious personality and unapologetic style as he delivers entirely original comedy content right there in front of your eyes. Indisputably talented, there’s no comic quite like Russell Hicks.
Kazeem Jamal is a young comedian from South East London who started his comedy career after finishing a career in semi-professional Rugby. Since his first gig in February 2018 in Dalston, Kazeem has put his head down and has been constantly working and writing. This work ethic matched with his punchy jokes has managed to see him come on leaps and bounds. Kazeem has opened up for Dane Baptiste, Mo Gilligan, Kojo Anim, Judi Love & more.
Sarah Speare is a fast rising comic from Liverpool and has been catching the attention of social with her daring and hilarious videos. She has recently took that same energy onto stage where she gives you a combination of her charming and pushing the boundary style of comedy where she speaks about her upbringing and personal life.
Somali-born, Cardiff-raised and London-based, Mo Omar is a fast-rising talent with a unique perspective. Mo was selected to perform in The Pleasance Comedy Reserve show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was a finalist of the BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Award, both in 2019. He then made his TV debut on Harry Hill’s Clubnite on Channel 4.
A comedian, host and podcaster born and raised in Harlow, to Jamaican parents, he has a blend of Caribbean confidence and Essex irreverence. Flagrant, thought-provoking and funny. To date, he has already appeared on television and radio, including Yanga TV, Pulse88 FM and BBC Radio. Also he has performed at some of the top comedy clubs including Downstairs at the King's Head and the Comedy Store as well as the Hackney Empire and the Indigo at the O2.
Josh left school and began doing stand-up comedy in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. He enjoyed performing stand up so he transitioned to the UK to gain more opportunities to progress his career. He has performed for royalty, also appearing on BBC Three, he has worked alongside top-class comedians such as Dara O' Briain, Paul Chowdhry and Jack Whitehall. Alongside stand up comedy, Joshua also does motivational speaking.
Joe Jacobs is a London based comedian, rapper and writer. Since 2012, he has performed nationally and internationally, sharing bills with acts including Bill Burr, Stewart Lee and Mr. Motivator. His live shows effortlessly flit between hip hop and comedy and he’s been seen/heard on Channel 4, BBC Radio 4, BBC 6 Music, Radio 1XTRA, plus gained millions of viral video views online. In addition to stand up, as solo artist Jester Jacobs, he’s put out music since his debut Mental Disorder in 2008.
Jay Handley used to make beautiful sculpted oak furniture before fucking it all off to become a comedian instead. He has performed all over the country at some of its very best venues. These include The Glee Club, Jongleurs, The Stand, The Comedy Store & Baby Blue. He has also twice been a finalist/bridesmaid in the Birmingham New Act of the Year Awards as well as appearing in the semi-finals of the LOADED Laftas and the Final of the Levity Festival Act of the Year.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Brandon started comedy in London and has a very diverse comedy background. Performing in Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Brighton and numerous venues in London such as Dulwich Hamlet, Caverndish Arms, and Comedy Cafe Theatre. Comedy special events for We Are Funny Project: 2016 Election Special Comedy Show and Feminist Talking Points Comedy Show. Also having Performing and surviving King Gong at the Comedy Store.
Based in London, born in Nigeria, Akin Omobitan is a stand-up comedian, host and podcaster. His comedy is dark and playful. Wrong-footing audiences for sport, Akin blends shadowy storytelling with murky punchlines to walk you through his life’s grey areas. 2017 was a great year for Akin Omobitan, seeing him win the Max Turner Prize, perform as a finalist in the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year and the semifinal of So You Tink You’re Funny?
Salman is an award winning comedian from London. He has performed for a mixture of crowds and communities. His ideas are greatly inspired by the works of Russel Peters, Umer sharif, Amanullah, Micheal Mcintyre and many more. Salman can perform in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu and is an ideal choice for private events. Salman’s comedy videos, short comedy skits and stand-up videos have been viewed over 6 million times on youtube alone.
An Award winning Actor & Filmmaker, Islah is the brains behind 3 successful self-produced online series "Mandem On The Wall", "Corner Shop Show" & "The Halalians". His efforts online have created a huge platform for himself, and many others, creating opportunities in the Social Media, TV & Film industry with noteworthy successes along the way.