Comedy – Big Laughs in the Big Top
23 - 24 July & 30 - 31 July
Now in its 32nd year, the Ealing Comedy Festival remains one of London’s most established open-air comedy events.
Set against the backdrop of Ealing Studios — home of the iconic Ealing comedies — the Big Top continues that tradition of British humour just moments from where it began.
Programmed by Headliners Comedy Club, the festival presents four nights of stand-up in the Big Top, combining household names, cult favourites and rising stars from across the UK circuit.
Opening Gala – Thursday 23 July
Tom Allen (MC) – With his signature acerbic wit and riotous storytelling, Tom Allen is a star of stage and screen. He co-hosts Cooking with the Stars and regularly appears on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice, and has been seen on Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You?, QI, The Last Leg and The Jonathan Ross Show
Flo & Joan – Award-winning musical comedy duo known for their sharp, witty songs and sell-out live shows. They have appeared on Live at the Apollo, The Royal Variety Performance and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Neil Delamere – Irish comedian renowned for his lightning-fast wit and sharp observational humour. A regular on QI, Live at the Apollo and Countdown, he has performed sell-out tours and appeared at festivals including Edinburgh, Montreal and Melbourne.
Laura Smyth – East London comedian, writer and actor who won the Funny Women Awards after just five months in comedy. She has appeared on Live at the Apollo and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and co-hosts the BBC Sounds podcast Bang On It.
Kae Kurd is a British-Kurdish stand-up comedian, writer and one of the UK’s fastest rising comedy stars. Known for his sharp wit, insightful humour and engaging presence, he has made a lasting mark on both stage and screen. His biggest achievement so far is headlining the Eventim Apollo on his sell-out Kurd Immunity Tour in 2023, a milestone that firmly established him as one of the most exciting voices in British comedy.
Hal Cruttenden is one of the top touring stand-up comedians working in the UK and Ireland today, as well as being a highly accomplished writer, presenter and actor. He has made several appearances on ‘Live at the Apollo’ (BBC1 & 2), ‘Have I Got News For You’ (BBC1), ‘The Royal Variety Performance’ (ITV1), ‘Would I Lie To You’ (BBC1) ‘The One Show’ (BBC1), ‘The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice’ (BBC2 & Channel 4) and ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired’ (BBC2).
Triple Headliner – Friday 24 July
Jo Caulfield (MC) - Described by The Observer as “one of the finest female comedians at work” and by The Scotsman as “quite simply, a damn funny woman” Jo can regularly be seen headlining the UK’s biggest and best comedy clubs. Whether you’ve seen her on “Have I Got News For You”. “The John Bishop Show’ or “Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow”, heard her on “Just a Minute” or “Breaking The News”, or caught one of her award-winning Edinburgh Festival shows, the chances are you’re already familiar with Jo’s work.
Harry Hill – Award-winning comedian and presenter known for his surreal humour and inventive comedy. Creator of the multi-award-winning Harry Hill’s TV Burp, he has also hosted Junior Bake Off and You’ve Been Framed.
Rory Bremner is the UK’s leading comedy and satirical impressionist. Since then, he’s appeared on countless TV shows from Have I Got News For You to Whose Line is it Anyway? and Mock the Week to QI.
Lucy Porter – is a huge hit with comedy audiences up and down the country with her distinctive, bouncy, feel-good comedy. She appeared on IQ, Mock the Week, Argumental, Have I Got News for You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks . She remains amongst the most sought-after comedy writers in Britain and was one of the lead writers on ITV1’s prime-time Sunday night satirical animation series Headcases.
Triple Headliner – Thursday 30 July
Paul Chowdhry is a multi-award-winning British stand-up comedian and one of the UK’s top-selling live acts. He has sold out major arenas including Wembley, The O2, and Birmingham Arena. Paul recently completed his North American Artificial Indian tour in partnership with Live Nation. On screen, Chowdhry can be seen on Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo, The Cleaner, Devils, and Disney’s Cruella. He is widely regarded as the most successful British Indian stand-up comedian of all time.
Milton Jones – Master of the one-liner and Perrier Best Newcomer winner, Milton Jones is a regular on Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo. He has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and House of Games, performs on the BBC Radio 4 favourite I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. His Edinburgh shows have received multiple five-star reviews, and he has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Closing Gala – Friday 31 July
Stephen Bailey (MC) - is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and writer. Known for being a proud northern, working class, gay man, his brand of gossipy humour has singled him out as one of the UK’s most sought-after talents for comedy and entertainment formats. 2025 was a huge success for Stephen with appearances on BBC One's Blankety Blank & The Celebrity Inner Circle, ITV's Sorry I Didn't Know. He also filmed for Comic Relief x Morning Live.
Lou Sanders – Taskmaster champion and one of Britain’s most original comedians. A regular on Live at the Apollo, QI, Would I Lie to You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, she is an internationally touring stand-up and author of What’s That Lady Doing?.
Jamali Maddix – One of the UK’s most distinctive comedy voices, known for fearless, thought-provoking stand-up. A regular on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, he has also appeared on Live at the Apollo, QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Taskmaster.
Scott Bennett – Stand-up comedian and writer whose shows have been nominated for Best Show at the Leicester Comedy Festival. He has appeared on Live at the Apollo, the Royal Variety Performance and BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz.
Mike Bubbins – Welsh comedian, writer and actor from Barry, and a regular headliner on the UK circuit. He has appeared in BBC comedies including Mammoth, which he co-wrote, as well as Warren and Tourist Trap, and is co-creator of radio hit The Unexplainers. He also hosts BBC Radio Wales and co-hosts the popular podcast The Socially Distant Sports Bar.
Ian Stone - Ranked amongst the top ten stand-ups in Britain by The Independent, Ian Stone is one of the most talented topical acts and comperes in the country. Edgy and provocative, with an easy-going manner and self-depreciating style, Ian is at great ease bantering with an audience. He received a nomination in 2012 for the BEST SHOW at the Leicester Comedy Festival.
