The Best in Comedy - Diss

Former comedy reviewer Fern Brady first tried stand-up after the magazine she worked for suggested she write an article where she 'faked it' as a comedian. She enjoyed it so much that one year on, she embarked on it as a career.

She quit her day job working with male ex convicts after Stewart Lee plucked her from obscurity and put her on The Alternative Comedy Experience (Comedy Central). Since then she has performed stand up on a number of TV shows including 8 out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Seann Walsh’s Late Night Comedy Spectacular (BBC3), Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) and The One Show (BBC1).

Based in London, she has had two sold out critically acclaimed runs at the Fringe with her solo shows “People Are Idiots” (2015) and “Male Comedienne” (2016).

'A great comic sensibility, with moments of sparkling verve' (The Guardian)

'Crackles with fire, has beautiful timing, perfectly pitched delivery and great gags to boot... has the air about her of a woman going places' (The Scotsman).

Darren Harriott is one of the most exciting up-and-coming comedians on the circuit. Over the last year, he has appeared on Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central, BBC Radio 4’s Best of the Fest, BBC 4 Extra Stands Up, and he also features in a new series for Comedy Central Online.

2017 saw Darren head to the Edinburgh Festival with his debut hour 'Defiant' at the Pleasance Courtyard, which was a big hit with audiences and critics alike. He was nominated for Best Newcomer.

Originally from Birmingham, and now living in London, Darren Harriott is a regular at clubs such as Comedy Café, Top Secret, Backyard Comedy Club, The Boat Show, Piccadilly and Covent Garden Comedy Club.

A confident performer with a captivating charm, Darren’s comedy deals with everything from subverting stereotypes, to everyday observations, to that juiciest of topics, religion – all with a cutting edge.

Steve Bugeja is one of comedy’s most exciting rising stars. Since winning the BBC New Comedy Award in 2013, Steve has gone on to host the BBC Radio 4 series Economics with Subtitles, and has made numerous appearances on TV shows such as Love Island: Aftersun (ITV2), Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) and Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC). Making a name for himself internationally, he has been invited to perform at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the past two years, appearing on the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow (ABC1) and on Comedy Up Late (ABC1). Steve wrote and performed his own sketch 10 Things You Should Know as an Adult for BBC3, acted in 4Music’s sketch show Pop Sludge and starred in a viral comedy video for Lucozade alongside England footballer Harry Kane.

A prolific writer, Steve was a key member of the writing team for The Russell Howard Hour (Sky1), and has contributed material to Mock the Week (BBC2), 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4) CelebAbility (ITV2), Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC2), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4) and The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4). In 2012, he and his writing partner won both the BBC’s Funny on Three sitcom competition, and BBC’S Jesting About 2 sketch competition.

In 2018, Steve embarks on his fourth and largest national tour with Almost, following the success of a critically-acclaimed, sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. The tour includes a 6-night run at London’s Soho Theatre. This tour follows his previous critically-acclaimed shows Summer Camp (2017), Unpronounceable (2016) and Day Release (2015). Unpronounceable and Summer Camp went on to tour nationwide, selling out increasingly large venues year on year.

‘Bugeja has an eye for original comic detail that's all his own.’ - The Guardian

‘Drum-tight, as if polished by a sitcom writers’ room to cram as many jokes in as humanly possible’ - Chortle

‘Steve is a charming, likeable stand-up with a set packed with gags’ – Sunday Post

‘Blends the intelligence of a well-crafted hour with some touching emotional honesty’ - The Scotsman

Brighton-based stand-up who started out in comedy in 2010.

'... a pretty straightforward anecdotal comedian... he tells (his jokes) well and with an offhand wit' (Chortle).