Top 50 Comedy Shows of 2024 - Mark Muldoon's Comedy Diary
Published: Monday 30th December 2024
Below you'll find a list of 50 shows, all of which created by people who are disgustingly talented. Each show a beautiful example of what can be done in live comedy.
Perhaps that sounds like a typically hyperbolic way to open a discussion, in an era where "these MUST-TRY tacos are the BEST in the UK"-style content is crucial to generating likes and, ultimately, sustaining media business models. If you've ever eaten at a pizza restaurant because it was described as the best pizza in the country/world, only to be confronted by a pizza that was mildly above average, I'd understand any trepidation.
But no, let's try and substitute hyperbole for precise evaluation. This time last year we gathered here to discuss the tentative theory that live comedy has never been better than the current scene, here in the UK. 12 months later, we have to contend with the reality that things have gotten even better since. A buffet of options: not just something for everyone, but something excellent for everyone.
Things sure as hell aren't perfect. The extent to which middle and upper class voices continue to dominate the scene seems to be increasing. Which is doubly unacceptable for an art form that, in theory, should have very low barriers to entry for working class voices. Despite this groundswell of amazing acts, there's fewer opportunities for comics to break through into mainstream TV consciousness, leading to a fairly brutal bottleneck of talent that isn't getting nearly the career opportunities it deserves (social media has helped counterbalance this issue, but only to an extent).
Where it's still possible to see each show in this list, you'll find a link. Some of them debuted in 2023, but I didn't see them until this year. There's genuinely excellent shows that didn't make the top 50. But, in the end, there can be no denying the number one spot: a phenomenally bold creation that - as things stand - is also the show of the decade.
50. Lauren Pattison
Lauren Pattison: Big Girl Pants, Monkey Barrel
49. Sukh Ojla
Sukh Ojla: The Aunty Years, Soho Theatre
Report
Tours England imminently
48. Chris Cantrill
Chris Cantrill: Easily Swayed, Soho Theatre
47. Emma Sidi
Emma Sidi Is Sue Gray, Pleasance Courtyard
46. Grace Campbell
Grace Campbell is On Heat, Hammersmith Apollo
45. Ania Magliano
Ania Magliano: Forgive Me Father, Pleasance Courtyard
44. Chloe Petts
Chloe Petts: How You See Me, How You Don't, Pleasance Courtyard
43. Jessie Cave
Jessie Cave: An Ecstatic Display, Assembly Roxy
42. Matt Forde
Matt Forde: The End of an Era Tour, Pleasance Courtyard
41. Jessica Fostekew
Jessica Fostekew: Mettle, Soho Theatre
40. Rhod Gilbert
Rhod Gilbert & the Giant Grapefruit, Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Report
Still absolutely loads of tour dates left
39. Ed Gamble
Ed Gamble: Hot Diggity Dog, Hackney Empire
Report
AU, NZ and Salford in 2025
38. Sara Barron
Sara Barron: Anything for You, Monkey Barrel
37. Ed Night
Ed Night: The Plunge, Soho Theatre
36. Amy Matthews
Amy Matthews: Commute With The Foxes, Monkey Barrel The Tron
Report
See it in Bristol, Stirling or Machynlleth
35. Jin Hao Li
Jin Hao Li: Swimming in a Submarine, Pleasance Courtyard
Report
See it in Edinburgh or London
Marjolein Robertson: 0, Monkey Barrell The Hive
33. Rob Auton
The Rob Auton Show, Soho Theatre
32. Phil Wang
Phil Wang: Wang In There Baby!, Hammersmith Apollo
31. Eric Rushton
Eric Rushton: Real One, Monkey Barrel The Hive
The Horne Section's Hit Show, London Palladium
29. Celya AB
Celya AB: Of All People, Pleasance Courtyard
28. Colin Hoult
Colin Hoult: Colin, Pleasance Courtyard
27. Harriet Kemsley
Harriet Kemsley: Everything Always Works Out For Me, Monkey Barrel
26. Vittorio Angelone & Friends
Vittorio Angelone & Friends, Monkey Barrel
25. Lindsey Santoro
Lindsey Santoro: Pink Tinge, Soho Theatre
24. Sarah Keyworth
Sarah Keyworth: My Eyes Are Up Here, Soho Theatre
Report
UK and international tour continues
23. Ross Noble
Ross Noble: Jibber Jabber Jamboree, London Palladium
1Xtra's Comedy Gala, Hackney Empire
21. Catherine Bohart
Catherine Bohart: Again, With Feelings, Soho Theatre
20. Nish Kumar
Nish Kumar: Nish, Don't Kill My Vibe, Hackney Empire
19. Rhys Nicholson
Rhys Nicholson: Huge Big Party Congratulations!, Leicester Square Theatre
Report
Good news if you live in Adelaide
18. Josephine Lacey
Josephine Lacey: Autism Mama, Soho Theatre
17. Josh Pugh
Josh Pugh: Existin' La Vida Loca, Leicester Square Theatre
16. Josh Glanc
Josh Glanc: Family Man, Monkey Barrel
15. Adam Riches & John Kearns
Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE Ball & Boe, Soho Theatre
14. Katie Norris
Katie Norris: Farm Fatale, Soho Theatre
13. BriTANicK
BriTANicK: Dummy, Soho Theatre
Report
Good news if you live in San Francisco
12. Patti Harrison
Patti Harrison: My Huge Tits Huge Because They Are Infected NOT FAKE, Soho Theatre
11. Rob Copland
Rob Copland: Gimme (One With Everything), Soho Theatre
Report
UK tour starts imminently
10. One Man Musical
One Man Musical by Flo & Joan, Soho Theatre
Report
Big London run starts January
Marie Faustin: Sorry I'm Late, Soho Theatre
8. Lou Wall
Lou Wall: The Bisexual's Lament, Pleasance Courtyard
7. Sam Campbell
Sam Campbell: Wobservations, Hackney Empire
Report
It's been filmed, so expect it at some point.
Joe Kent-Walters Is Frankie Monroe: Live!!!, Monkey Barrel
5. Dan Tiernan
Dan Tiernan: Going Under, Soho Theatre
Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Peacock, Pleasance Courtyard
Report
2025 dates in Bangor, Wales and Australia
3. Olga Koch
Olga Koch Comes From Money, Monkey Barrel
Demi Adejuyigbe is Going To Do One (1) Backflip, Pleasance Courtyard
Report
London run starts January
Natalie Palamides: WEER, Soho Theatre
Read previous editions of this column, featuring, well, all of the above really.
Mark Muldoon is also available on Instagram and Bluesky, should you wish to argue that Josh Pugh should have been placed above Josh Glanc etc. etc.
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