Poll declares Daniel Kitson the comedians' comedian
A poll of stand-up comedians organised by digital channel Dave has declared Daniel Kitson to be the best British stand-up of all time.
Dave's Census of Humour, which has been organised to promote Dave's One Night Stand which starts on TV tonight, involved one-on-one interviews being conducted with 112 UK-based professional stand-up comics. Those taking part in the research included the likes of Bill Bailey, Jo Brand, Tim Vine, Dave Gorman, Rhod Gilbert, Mark Watson, Jason Byrne and Greg Davies.
The results revealed that Kitson was considered the best stand-up comedian of all-time, with 24% of the vote, ahead of Billy Connolly (20%), Eddie Izzard (13%) and Tommy Cooper (7%). However, two comedians polled did not vote, on the basis that "all-time hasn't happened yet".
Kitson is very popular among his contemporaries, critics and live comedy fans, but is virtually unknown to TV audiences. This is because the Yorkshireman shuns TV and radio work, as he believes the media does not allow him enough freedom artistically. Kitson's only notable TV appearance was when he played Spencer in Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights. He later revealed he did not like the experience, and his only TV role since has been providing the voice of a rat in the 2010 Comedy Lab pilot Penelope Princess of Pets.
The poll for Dave's Census of Humour also asked several other questions, which produced the following results:
- Liverpool is the toughest place to gig (18% of the vote), followed by Nottingham and then Maidstone in Kent.
- The Midlands has the most receptive comedy audiences (21%).
- London and the South East are the best places to do satirical comedy (39%).
- People aged between 18-25 are the hardest to make laugh (46%), but the ideal age of a comedy audience is believed to be aged between 26-33.
- 31% of stand-up comedians admit to suffering from intense stage fright before they perform, to the point of feeling physically sick.
- The North West is place where the audience are most likely to heckle (29%), followed by Scotland (18%).
- When responding to heckling, 65% of stand-ups say they respond with a witty put-down, the remainder believe the best policy is to ignore the heckler.
- 70% of comedians do not drink before going out on stage for fear it will hinder their performance.
- 55% of comedians say they have had a joke stolen by another act, but 25% say there is little they can do about it and believe that sometimes imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
- Comedians believe the most offensive stand-up working today is Frankie Boyle (14%), followed by Jerry Sadowitz (12%).
Commenting on the survey, Dave's channel head, Steve North said: "Being a stand up has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. And these guys do it for fun! It's great to hear from the 'Dave One Night Stand Up Survey' that audiences are making the comedians work for their laughs. The better they get, the better the entertainment."
In January 2005, Channel 4 held its own poll (The Comedians' Comedian) which asked over 300 comedians, writers, producers and directors from the UK and abroad who they thought was the greatest comedian was. Their winner was Peter Cook. Daniel Kitson did not appear in the top fifty.