Leicester Comedy Festival announces 2024 shortlists
- New act contest Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year will take place on 24th February 2024
- The eleventh UK Pun Championships is scheduled for 12th February 2024
- Silver Stand-Up, the contest for acts over the age of 55, will have its final on 20th February 2024
Leicester Comedy Festival has announced the comedians taking part in the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, UK Pun Championships and Silver Stand Up contests, plus the Circuit Breakers development programme.
Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year
The prestigious new act contest, which is back for a 30th edition, will take place on 24th February at The Y Theatre in a show hosted by Sindhu Vee.
The comedians selected to take part are:
UK Pun Championships
The eleventh UK Pun Championships will celebrate the great art of the British pun on 12th February 2023, #UKPunDay. The shortlist of contestants that will compete in a battle that takes place in a real boxing ring at De Montfort Hall, surrounded by a boisterous live audience this time are:
Silver Stand-Up
The shortlist of comedians over the age of 55 that will compete in the 20th February 2024 final at PETER Pizzeria in a show hosted by Barbara Nice are...
Tracey Rhodes (as Our Trace)
Circuit Breakers
The six comedians from across the UK that have been selected to benefit from the Circuit Breakers development programme are:
This scheme, which has been running since 2018, is designed to nurture and develop comedians' careers, they will each have the support of Leicester Comedy Festival and a spot to perform at the 2024 festival. The Circuit Breakers showcases, hosted by Eshaan Akbar, will take place at PETER Pizzeria on 16th and 17th February.
Festival director Charlotte Laidet says: "Supporting emerging talents and celebrating comedy in all its forms are the core missions of our festival and Big Difference as a charity. We are so proud to run these events, and the record breaking number of applications shows the high demand for these type of events in the comedy industry. We wish all finalists good luck and are looking forward to the shows in February!"
The Leicester Comedy Festival runs from 7th to 25th February 2024. A full programme can be seen on comedy-festival.co.uk