Sean Lock had the best selling stand-up special of 2021
- Sean Lock: Keep It Light was the best selling stand-up special of last year, according to the British Association for Screen Entertainment
- The late comic's 2017 release was the most purchased for combined download and DVD sales
- Bill Bailey, Peter Kay, Micky Flanagan, Jethro and Billy Connolly also feature in the top 10
Sean Lock's final recorded show was the best selling stand-up special of 2021.
Figures compiled by the British Association for Screen Entertainment, reveal that 2017's Keep It Light was the most-purchased title by a comedian over the last 12 months.
Lock, who died in August of lung cancer, aged 58, charted second overall in the trade body's Special Interest Video Chart, which was topped by historical documentary The Blitz: 80th Anniversary.
However, the top 10 was otherwise exclusively filled by stand-up releases from established acts spanning the last two decades, presumably as audiences sought familiar, comfort viewing during successive lockdowns.
The full top 10 special interest chart, which excludes feature films, episodic television, music, sport or fitness releases, is as follows:
1. The Blitz: 80th Anniversary (2021)
2. Sean Lock: Keep It Light (2017)
3. Bill Bailey: Limboland (2018)
4. Peter Kay: The Tour That Didn't Tour (2011)
5. Micky Flanagan: Complete Live Collection (2017)
6. Jethro: 40 Years The Joker (2015)
7. Peter Kay: Live At The Bolton Albert (2003)
8. Billy Connolly: Triple Pack (2010)
9. Billy Connolly: High Horse Tour (2016)
10. Peter Kay: Live At The Top Of The Tower (2000)
BASE's figures are based upon sales of downloads and physical media such as DVDs and Blu-rays. Streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime do not generally release viewing figures for individual stand-up specials, which are included as part of subscription packages.
"People probably turned to Sean Lock after his death, while Bill Bailey being on Strictly Come Dancing helped to stimulate mainstream interest in him," Andy Neilson, senior PR and social executive for BASE told British Comedy Guide. "The newest [stand-up] stuff isn't getting physically released these days, that's all going to streaming platforms. So these are very much the 'classics', the best of the last few years."
In its annual report, BASE found home entertainment sales as a whole rose to £3.7billion in 2021, up 13.3% on 2020, as cinemas and high street retailers spent long periods closed.
Liz Bales, BASE's chief executive said: "Throughout this pandemic, entertainment at home was the refuge that many chose to take from an uncertain world, and it became clearer than perhaps ever before: audiences are the life-blood that fuels our industry.
"Serving audiences the content they love is driving a new, innovative world of Home Entertainment. Last year, faced with challenge, our industry was forced to adapt, but now, because of those changes, 2022 may be the biggest and best year for home entertainment ever."