Best In Class 2023 line-up announced
The line-up for Best In Class, the award-winning profit sharing show that champions working class comedians, has been revealed.
Here are the biographies of the comedians taking part this year.
Leroy Brito
A breakout star from Wales, Leroy is a regular on the UK comedy circuit and has had 4 sold out solo shows at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre. Leroy has previously starred in the BBC One sitcom Tourist Trap, is a regular on BBC Radio Wales and has presented on 6 Nations Sin Bin, Wales Big Kickoff and Wales Live. In demand as a writer, Leroy co-wrote a BBC Radio Wales sitcom, was a writer on Late Night Football Club and has recently written episodes for television and radio on the award winning Cbeebies preschool show JoJo & Gran Gran.
Ashley Gorman
Ashley Gorman is a comedian and writer born and bred in Burnt Oak, North West London. He recently emigrated to Forest Hill in South East London to become a pub landlord. Ashley is an exceptional storyteller who mines his own life for comedy gold. His anecdotes of outlandish misadventures leave audiences in hysterics.
Lee Hudson
Lee's brand of personal storytelling and self-deprecation has seen his reputation rise on the UK comedy circuit and beyond, having also performed in the US, Canada and around Europe. He's opened for Dan Soder and Tom Stade and is part of the Ian Edwards Soccer Comic Rant podcast on Bill Burr's All Things Comedy network.
Dani Johns
Born and bred Bristolian Dani Johns is described as a "smart, clever pocket rocket of a comedian" whose "sassy delivery captivates every audience member". With an energetic mix of storytelling and serious over sharing, she's been named as one of the best new comics on the scene and is taking the circuit by storm.
Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell is a queer working class comic who grew up on a council estate and began comedy in sixth form in 2016. She is alternative yet pervasive, revelling in main-stream comedy environments where her infectious, joyful and silly work is a delight on any line-up.
Jen Nolan
Jen Nolan is a working class comedian and won't let you forget it! Telling (not so tall) tales of life growing up on the breadline, she has been told she is one to watch, even if that was by her Nan with dementia.
Jacob Nussey
Jacob Nussey unassumingly draws in audiences with his deadpan style, sharp jokes, and ill-fated anecdotes with clever punchlines. Jacob won West Didsbury Comedy Festival New Act of the Year and was a finalist of Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year in 2022. After reaching the semi-finals of British Comedian of the Year and semi-finals of So You Think You're Funny in 2021. Jacob has been named by Chortle as one to watch for 2023. He's seriously funny and well worth seeing in person!
Katie Tracey
Kate has been performing stand-up across the UK for over a decade. Her down to earth observations and cheeky humour has made her a favourite with audiences and acts alike. Katie aims to challenge people's perception of middle aged working class women, with her infectious charm and razor sharp wit.
The Best In Class scheme was started by stand-up Sian Davies in 2018 after she had become "fed up with class, money and social status being used as a barrier to performing".
Alumni from the scheme include Tom Mayhew, Lindsey Santoro, Jamie Hutchinson, Tamsyn Kelly and Jordan Gray.
Best In Class has grown in tandem alongside Davies' comedy career, and she will now take more of a behind-the-scenes role in the showcase. She explains: "I used to MC the show daily during the fringe. But now I have my own solo shows to concentrate on, I'm happy to hand the show over to the squad. They are a talented bunch who I know will have everything covered. I'll be around if they need me, but Best In Class is about the acts having ownership of their show."
The 2023 Best In Class season starts with a showcase at Leicester Comedy Festival this Saturday (11th February), before heading to VAULT Festival (18th March), Brighton Fringe (5th May) and London's Soho Theatre (18th April), before a run at the Edinburgh Festival in August.
Donations to the 2023 campaign can be made via GoFundMe