Global Talent Directory

Comedians from United Kingdom

The comedian directory for United Kingdom: profiles, bios, photos and social links.

327 comedians

Alan Young

Alan Young, born Angus Young on November 19, 1919, in North Shields, Northumberland, England, had a career spanning radio, film, and television. His parents were Scottish; his father worked as both a mine worker and tap dancer, while his mother was a singer. Before his sixth birthday, the family moved from Edinburgh, Scotland, to West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, after initially relocating there when he was a toddler. Young’s early interest in radio developed due to asthma during childhood. He started delivering comedic monologues on stage at 13 and, throughout the 1930s and early 1940s, he had already secured radio work in both Canada and the United States. During World War II, Young served in the Royal Canadian Navy. He left the Navy after being assigned to write for a Navy show; he reportedly attempted to join the Canadian Army but was rejected due to childhood asthma. After completing his military duty, Young commenced starring roles in variety-comedy programs, known as The Alan Young Show , broadcast on both radio and television from the 1940s through the 1950s. His role as Wilbur Post in the television series Mister Ed (1961–1966) is what he is most widely recognized for. Throughout his career, he continued to appear in films and television shows, including Tom Thumb (1958), Baker's Hawk (1976), The Cat From Outer Space (1978), Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), Ducktales: The Movie (1990), The Love Boat (1983), and Murder, She Wrote (1986), as well as a role on the soap opera General Hospital . From 1974 until his death, he provided the voice of Scrooge McDuck, lending his voice to films and video games. He also voiced Flaversham in The Great Mouse Detective (1986), using a Scottish brogue. Young starred in the short-lived sitcom Coming of Age (1988-89). Alan Young died on May 19, 2016.

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Anna Russell

Anna Claudia Russell-Brown, known professionally as Anna Russell, was born in London, England, on December 27, 1911. She died on October 18, 2006. Born to Claud Russell Brown, a Royal Engineers colonel and amateur pianist, and Beatrice Tandy, who later obtained Canadian citizenship due to her Canadian ancestry, she was an English-Canadian singer and comedian. Anna attended St Felix School in Southwold, Suffolk, and subsequently studied at Harrogate College, Brussels, and Paris. Her musical education continued at the Royal College of Music, where she studied with piano teacher Marmaduke Barton, graduating with a degree in musicology and composition between 1934 and 1939. Russell’s career began with engagements in opera, including a notably unsuccessful appearance as Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana . She appeared on BBC radio as a folk singer in 1931 and later worked for the BBC's education department. Following her father’s death in 1939, Russell and her mother relocated to Toronto, Canada, settling in Unionville, Ontario, and becoming Canadian citizens in 1943 before gaining American citizenship in 1955. She quickly established herself as an entertainer on local radio stations by 1940, cohosting the variety show Syd and Anna on CJBC in the early 1940s. In 1942, the Toronto Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire presented her debut solo performance. Russell gained international recognition with the help of Sir Ernest MacMillan in 1944. She made her New York City debut in 1948 and toured extensively throughout the English-speaking world, performing concerts singing and playing comic musical sketches on the piano. Her comedy style was characterized by deadpan humor and a mockery of pretension, often emphasizing the absurd in accepted stories. She is best known for The Ring of the Nibelungs (An Analysis) , a 22-minute humorous synopsis of Wagner's opera, which she performed and released on an album in 1975. Other notable works included How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera and appearances in an animated film of Hansel and Gretel (1954), as well as roles at the New York City Opera (1954) and Cosmopolitan Opera (1957). She appeared on Broadway in All by Myself (1960) and on The Ed Sullivan Show , performing at Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall. She founded Grow Productions, Inc. in 1963, and authored her autobiography, I’m Not Making This Up, You Know! , in 1985. A video special called The First Anna Russell Farewell Special was released in 2001.

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Benny Hill

Alfred Hawthorne Hill, known professionally as Benny Hill, was born on January 21, 1924, in Southampton, Hampshire, England. Although his birth year is sometimes incorrectly listed as 1925, he came from a family with a history of performance; his grandfather, Henry Hill, and great-grandfather were circus clowns. Prior to his entertainment career, Hill worked several different jobs; these included positions at Woolworths, delivering milk, operating a bridge, driving, and playing the drums. He took the nickname 'Benny' after the comedian Jack Benny. Following September 1944, World War II saw Hill working for the British Army. He performed roles including searchlight operator, truck driver and mechanic in Normandy. Hill began his professional career with a radio debut on Variety Bandbox in October 1947. He briefly worked as Reg Varney's straight man, having been chosen over Peter Sellers for the position. His first television appearance occurred in 1949, and he subsequently starred in a sitcom anthology called Benny Hill from 1962 to 1963. He also appeared in several film adaptations, including playing Nick Bottom in a 1964 TV film of A Midsummer Night's Dream , and featured in films such as Who Done It? (1956), Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and The Italian Job (1969). From 1964 to 1966, he hosted the radio program Benny Hill Time , and his song 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)' reached number one on the UK Christmas charts in 1971. Hill's most recognized work was The Benny Hill Show , which ran from January 15, 1955, to May 1, 1989, and was broadcast on both the BBC and ITV. The British Film Institute (BFI) considered him the first British comedian to achieve fame through television, noting that his show had a global audience in over 100 countries. According to Anthony Burgess, Hill possessed 'comic genius' deeply rooted in the British music hall tradition. Numerous accolades marked Hill's career; these included a Rose d’Or along with a BAFTA Television Award given for Best Writer. Also noted were nominations—a BAFTA recognizing Best Entertainment Performance, plus two Emmy Awards. In 2006, ITV placed him at number 17 in their listing of TV’s 50 Greatest Stars. Benny Hill died on April 18, 1992, leaving behind a legacy as one of the world's most successful comedians, with The Benny Hill Show broadcast on over 130 television channels worldwide.

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David Baddiel

Born in Troy, New York, on May 28, 1964, David Baddiel is a multifaceted English personality, working as a comedian, presenter, screenwriter, and author. Originating from the U.K., his parents resided in the United States when he was born; however, at just four months of age, he relocated to England with his family. Baddiel’s education included attendance at North West London Jewish Day School and Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, culminating in a double first BA degree from King’s College, Cambridge, where he studied English. He briefly pursued a PhD in English at University College London. Baddiel began his career collaborating with Rob Newman, notably performing at Wembley Arena in 1992 for the UK's first arena comedy show and co-creating The Mary Whitehouse Experience and Newman and Baddiel in Pieces , both broadcast on BBC Two. He subsequently formed a successful comedy partnership with Frank Skinner, creating and presenting Fantasy Football and Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned . Alongside The Lightning Seeds, he co-wrote the iconic song ‘Three Lions’ in 1996, which has become an enduring English football anthem. His writing credits also include the comedy film The Infidel . Beyond television and music, Baddiel is a prolific author. He has written twelve children's books, including titles such as The Parent Agency , AniMalcolm , Birthday Boy , and Head Kid . He has also published four adult novels: The Death of Eli Gold , Time For Bed , Whatever Love Means , and The Secret Purposes . In 2022, he released the non-fiction book Jews Don’t Count and a corresponding documentary for Channel 4. His recent work includes filming a trilogy of specials, 'Not The', for Sky Arts in 2024, launching the podcast ‘A Muslim and a Jew Go There’ with Sayeeda Warsi in 2024, and embarking on a comedy travelogue, Two Men on a Bike with Hugh Dennis, slated for release in 2025. His memoir, My Family , published in 2024, achieved bestseller status. He has also returned to stand-up, with shows like Fame: Not The Musical (2013), My Family: Not the Sitcom (nominated for an Olivier Award in 2016), and Trolls: Not the Dolls (2020-2021).

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Dawn French

Dawn Roma French, a performer from the United Kingdom, works as an actress, stand‑up comic and author. She gained prominence by co‑creating and appearing in the BBC sketch programme French and Saunders, which ran from 1987 until 2007 alongside her longtime friend and fellow comic Jennifer Saunders. Her television credits also include lead roles in the BBC series Murder Most Horrid (1991‑1999) and The Vicar of Dibley (1994‑2007). Over her career she has received seven nominations for the British Academy Television Awards and, together with Saunders, was honoured with a BAFTA Fellowship in 2009.

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Dudley Moore

An English actor, comedian, musician, and composer, Dudley Moore was born on April 19, 1935, in Dagenham, England. His parents were John Moore and Ada Francis. Early in life, he faced challenges due to club feet, requiring extensive hospital treatment; one foot did not respond to corrective measures. Even so, his exceptional abilities were evident early on; he received a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music at the age of 11, followed by an organ scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955. While studying there, he developed into a skilled jazz pianist and composer, performing at jazz clubs and cabarets, and collaborating with Alan Bennett in The Oxford Revue. Moore’s career took off in the early 1960s when he joined John Dankworth's big band after graduating from Oxford in 1958. From 1960 to 1964, Moore participated in the satirical comedy revue *Beyond the Fringe*, performing alongside Bennett and fellow artists, and was recognized with a special Tony Award in 1963. A significant partnership formed with Peter Cook, resulting in the BBC television series Not Only... But Also from 1965 to 1970. The duo jointly received the 1966 British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance and created the humorous Dagenham Dialogues sketches for the show. They also appeared together in films such as The Wrong Box (1966) and Bedazzled (1967), with Moore co-writing Bedazzled alongside Cook. Moore achieved solo success in America during the late 1970s and early 1980s, starring in films like Foul Play (1978), 10 (1979), and notably, Arthur (1981). His performance in Arthur earned him nominations for an Academy Award for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award, which he won. He received a second Golden Globe Award for Micki & Maude (1984). In 1987, Moore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him the title of CBE in 2001. Diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease in the 1980s, Dudley Moore continued to work until his death on March 27, 2002.

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Eros Vlahos

Eros Vlahos is an English actor and comedian, born in London on January 13, 1995. He possesses British (maternal) and Greek (paternal) ancestry, reflecting the backgrounds of his parents, Terry Davy and Spiros Vlahos. Established in 1994, Cyberdog shop in Camden Market is run by his parents. Vlahos’s early life demonstrates an inclination towards performance; he has a younger brother named Tron Vlahos. Playing Cyril Gray within *Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang* (2010), alongside a portrayal of Jake Farley in *Summer in Transylvania* (2010), brought him initial recognition. Vlahos's foray into comedy began at a young age. In 2008, when he was 13 years old, he presented his own comedic routines at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He also reviewed Christmas pantomimes for The Guardian that same year. His comedic talents extended to radio, where he hosted a show on Radio London, and television, appearing on CBBC Extra. Demonstrating a dedication to nurturing budding comedians, Vlahos participates with the Comedy Club 4 Kids UK children's Comedy Academy. He has had recurring roles in television shows, including portraying Lommy Greenhands in Game of Thrones and Nico Machiavelli in Da Vinci's Demons (2013-2015), appearing in 27 episodes of the latter. He directed and wrote the comedic short film Meat Puppet , which premiered at SXSW 2024. At SXSW 2024, the movie received significant acclaim, winning the Special Jury Prize and the Audience Award. Currently, he remains single and without children. Vlahos honors his Greek roots by regularly visiting his father’s hometown in Filiates, Greece.

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George Formby

George Formby, born George Hoy Booth on May 26, 1904, in Wigan, Lancashire, was a significant figure in British entertainment. He came from a family steeped in music hall tradition; his father, George Formby Sr., also performed under the same name. Early in life, Formby worked as a stable boy and jockey beginning at the age of seven. Following his father's death in 1921, he began performing on stage, initially imitating his father’s established act. A pivotal moment arrived in 1923 when he acquired a ukulele and married Beryl Ingham; she subsequently became his manager and played a crucial role in reshaping his career. Beryl Ingham's influence was immediately apparent, as she insisted on formal attire for Formby’s performances and integrated the ukulele into his act. He began recording music in 1926, further expanding his reach. From 1934, Formby entered the world of film, rapidly gaining popularity and achieving major stardom by the late 1930s and 1940s. Film historian Brian McFarlane described his characters as portraying 'gormless Lancastrian innocents,' a depiction that resonated with audiences. During World War II, Formby dedicated himself to entertaining both military personnel and civilians through ENSA, performing for an estimated three million service people. Following the war, he embarked on tours throughout the Commonwealth. His final television appearance occurred in December 1960. Sadly, George Formby died on March 6, 1961, at the age of 56, and was buried in Warrington. Jeffrey Richards believed that Formby embodied Lancashire, the working classes, and the nation as a whole. He left a lasting impact, influencing later comedians such as Charlie Drake and Norman Wisdom, and even musicians like the Beatles. The George Formby Society, established in 1961, continues to celebrate his legacy, with conventions planned for 2026 and 2027, and features extensive archives and a section called 'Sounds Like George' on its website.

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Jennifer Saunders

Born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, on July 6, 1958, Jennifer Jane Saunders, who is often referred to as Jennifer Saunders, is an English actress, singer, screenwriter, and comedienne. Her father was a Royal Air Force pilot who reached the rank of group captain, while her mother was a biology teacher. Shortly after her birth, she moved to Cyprus with her family, later residing in Camberley and Melksham. Three brothers comprise her family: Tim, Peter, and Simon. Saunders attended several boarding schools, including St Paul's Girls' School, and subsequently worked as an au pair in Italy for a year. In 1977, Saunders commenced her professional journey at the Central School of Speech and Drama, where she encountered Dawn French and together they established a significant comedic collaboration. They became members of The Comic Strip in the 1980s, performing at The Boulevard Theatre and appearing in productions like The Comic Strip Presents: Five Go Mad In Dorset in 1982. Together, Saunders and French co-wrote and starred in the sketch show French and Saunders , which they created. She is also recognized for writing and playing the iconic character of Edina Monsoon in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous , a role that garnered her international acclaim. Her work extends to numerous other TV shows and movies since the 1980s, including appearances in Girls on Top and guest spots on American sitcoms like Roseanne and Friends . Jennifer Saunders’s contributions to comedy have been widely recognized with numerous awards. She received a BAFTA Fellowship in 2009 alongside Dawn French, and has also won BAFTAs, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards, a British Comedy Award, an International Emmy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, and a People’s Choice Award in 2005. She voiced the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 (2004), reprising the role in sequels, and received a People’s Choice Award for this performance. The year 2013 saw the publication of her autobiography, *Bonkers: My Life in Laughs*, with Jennifer Saunders providing the narration. More recently, she appeared in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2021) and Death on the Nile (2021), and voiced characters in films like Coraline and Sing . Maisel (2022) and starring in a one-woman show, Jennifer Saunders: Live , at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2024.

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Jessie Cave

Jessie Cave is a comedian from United Kingdom, born in 1987. Known for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Great Expectations.

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Katherine Parkinson

Katherine Parkinson is an English actress, born March 9, 1978, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. She spent her formative years growing up in the suburbs of London, specifically in Tolworth and Surbiton. Her parents are Janet Parkinson, a teacher, and Alan Parkinson, a historian. She attended Tiffin Girls' School and subsequently pursued higher education at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, studying classics. Although she began training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), she left before graduating; she met Chris O’Dowd during her time there, and briefly left LAMDA to appear in The Age of Consent . Parkinson's career encompasses both stage and screen work. She has appeared in several plays including The Seagull at the Royal Court Theatre in 2007 alongside Kristin Scott Thomas, and Cock in 2009. She received an Olivier Award nomination for her performance in Home, I’m Darling in 2018. Her television roles include playing Pauline Lamb in Doc Martin from 2005 to 2009, and starring as Jen Barber in the popular science-fiction comedy The IT Crowd from 2006 to 2014. This role brought her significant recognition, including a BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2014. She also starred in the science-fiction series Humans from 2015 to 2018 and appeared in films like The Boat That Rocked (2009) and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018), as well as The Nan Movie (2022). She has also made appearances on BBC Radio 4. Parkinson’s career has not been without adversity. In 2005, she experienced a brutal assault while walking home from a show, resulting in hospitalization and a broken nose. This event, which occurred in an unnamed town outside London, led to feelings of class-based shame during her recovery, and continues to influence her concerns for her daughters' safety. She has spoken about drawing on the wisdom of therapy, influenced by Michaela Coel’s ‘I May Destroy You’. As of 2026, she is 48 years old and continues to work, currently starring in Disney’s comedy-drama Rivals . Her recent success includes a second BAFTA TV Comedy Award in 2026 for her role in Here We Go , and despite often traveling home late alone from theatres, she remains committed to her craft.

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Omid Djalili

Omid Djalili is a British comedian, actor, and writer with Iranian heritage. Born in London on September 30, 1965, his parents, Ahmad and Parvaneh Djalili, emigrated from Tehran to London in 1958. His mother previously assisted Iranian singer Googoosh, and his father worked as a liaison officer at the Iranian embassy and also pursued photography. He attended Holland Park School, though he struggled academically, failing A-level exams six times before ultimately studying English and theatre studies at Ulster University after altering his results. Djalili's career began on the stage with his debut performance at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, presenting 'Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son'. He subsequently collaborated with Ivor Dembina in 1996 for ‘The Arab and the Jew’. His work gained wider recognition through appearances in various media; he participated in a Comic Relief show following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and appeared on Top Gear in 2005. He achieved significant success at the Edinburgh Festival in 2005, breaking box office records with over 16,500 ticket sales. Djalili has also hosted Saturday night film premières for Sky Television since 2006, and toured the UK with 'No Agenda' from January to March 2007. Beyond stand-up, Djalili’s talents extend to acting and writing. He guest-presented Have I Got News for You in October 2007 and starred in a BBC1 show, ‘The Omid Djalili Show’, from November 2007 to April 2009. His film credits include roles in Gladiator, The Mummy, and Notting Hill. He also lends his voice to the character Yusuf Amir in the Grand Theft Auto series starting in 2009, and has taken on theatrical roles such as Fagin in a West End production of Oliver! (February 2009) and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2017. More recently, in February 2022, he shot pilots for a chat show called Tonight With Omid. Currently, Djalili writes articles for The Telegraph and actively uses his platform to raise awareness about the situation in Iran, documenting protests and violence and expressing concern for Iranian citizens under the Islamic regime.