Global Talent Directory

Comedians Directory

Browse comedian profiles, biographical summaries, country of origin, and official links.

1899 comedians

H. Vernon Watson

Samuel Vernon Watson, also known professionally as Nosmo King and sometimes cited as H. Vernon Watson, was an English variety artist born in 1886 near Peterborough. He originated from a rural area close to Peterborough and initially pursued a career as a bank clerk before finding his calling on the stage. Early in life, Watson demonstrated a talent for mimicry, which he began to develop professionally in 1911. Initially performing under his birth name, he started touring music halls before World War I and quickly gained recognition for his skill as an impressionist, impersonating other comedians. A significant moment came when Frank Tinney visited the United Kingdom; Watson subsequently incorporated an impression of Tinney into his act, which involved “blacking up.” Around the early 1930s, Watson transitioned to performing solely as Nosmo King, adopting a new act centered around a black-faced persona. The name 'Nosmo King' originated from a 'NO SMOKING' sign displayed on stage, or alternatively, from a sign on backstage dock doors, depending on the source. His performances became increasingly popular during this decade, and he gained notoriety for impersonating an American comedian using “blacking up.” Watson’s demanding schedule often involved performing at two rival theatres in Leeds, completing four shows nightly and traveling between them by taxi. He initially smoked cigars onstage but discontinued the practice due to audience feedback, eventually switching to snuff. The partnership with his son, Jack Watson, born in 1915 in Cambridgeshire, proved crucial to his success; Jack joined him onstage as his straight man, Hubert, contributing significantly to Watson's rising fame. During World War II, Watson performed solo when his son, Jack, joined the military. Jack Watson went on to become a famous and popular television and film actor. He was buried in Thorney Cemetery near Peterborough with 'Nosmo King' inscribed on his headstone. While his comedy style involved impressions and, later, a distinct persona, he is perhaps best remembered for the unique stage name he adopted and the long comic monologues that defined his later act. He became a professional in 1911 and remained a prominent figure in British variety entertainment until his passing.

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Helen Keen

Born in Yorkshire, Helen Keen is a writer and English alternative comedian. She currently resides in London. Keen’s journey into comedy began early; she won the Channel 4 New Comedy Writing Initiative award in 2005 alongside Miriam Underhill, and reached the final of the 2005 UK Funny Women competition. In 2006, Keen reached the final round of the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition. She also performed in a tribute to Malcolm Hardee in 2007, demonstrating a dedication to the alternative comedy scene. Her early experiences, including selective mutism as a child which she overcame, have informed her perspective and are sometimes discussed in interviews. Keen’s comedy style is characterized by its exploration of unusual and esoteric subjects, often combining stand-up with science, storytelling, and homemade props. This approach led to the creation of 'It Is Rocket Science!', a show that premiered in 2008 and earned her the Best Individual Performer award at the Buxton Festival Fringe. The show toured arts and science festivals throughout 2008 and was subsequently adapted into a BBC Radio 4 series, recorded in 2010 and aired in 2011, with subsequent series following in 2012 and 2014. Her writing credits include work for BBC Radio 1’s The Milk Run and BBC Radio 4's The Now Show, further establishing her presence as a versatile writer. She also co-hosts Spacetacular!, a space-themed comedy quiz night with Matt Brown, which received a UK Space Agency Space For All award in 2012. Keen’s work has gained significant recognition and expanded beyond the stage and radio. She hosted a Comedy Night at CERN in 2013, marking CERN's most successful webcast since the Higgs boson discovery. Keen authored 'The Science of Game of Thrones' (2016), translated into numerous languages, with excerpts adapted for TIME magazine. From 2010 to 2012, she held the position of Comedian in Residence at the Newcastle Centre for Life; additionally, Helen Keen was designated a Wired UK Innovation Fellow in 2015. Her BBC Radio 4 series 'It Is Rocket Science' won the WISE Media Award in 2013, presented by Princess Anne, and was nominated for a Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Award in 2014. Currently, she is frequently sought after for corporate events and has launched the podcast 'Future Tense' on Audible with Warwick Davis and Richard Ayoade in 2025.

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Mark Dolan

Mark Dolan is an English presenter and comedian, working in his field for over 25 years. Born on March 17, 1974, he grew up in Kentish Town, London, above a pub with his father Seamus, mother Diane, a brother, and two sisters. He attended University College School in Hampstead, London, and subsequently earned an MA in politics from the University of Edinburgh. Dolan’s career began in 2000 with stand-up comedy, and included performing with the improvisational comedy troupe, The Improverts, while at university. He hosted 'Balls of Steel' on Channel 4 from 2005 to 2008, and presented 'The Richard Taylor Interviews' in 2002, gaining recognition for his role in the hidden camera job interview show. From 2019 to July 2021, he worked at Talkradio presenting Drivetime, Saturday nights and Sundays. He is known for a comedy style that includes topical humor, audience interaction, and polished delivery. He presented three documentary series, 'The World's…And Me,' which ran for twelve one-hour films, and published a book based on the series, 'The World’s Most Extraordinary People and Me', in 2010. Dolan hosted numerous other shows including 'Mark Dolan Tonight' and 'Friday Night Live with Mark Dolan' for GB News from 2021 to 2024. He has toured the UK and internationally with his stand-up shows, and regularly performs on the London stand-up circuit. In 2025, he joined TalkTV and currently hosts 'The Mark Dolan Show' Sunday-Thursday at 4:00 PM, co-hosts the 'Daily Expresso' podcast on Mondays at 5:00 PM, and appears weekly on Sky News Australia’s 'The Paul Murray Show'. He has hosted corporate events for over 20 years, working with leading global brands such as Sony, AB InBev, Samsung, and the FT.

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Miles Jupp

Miles Jupp is an English actor and comedian, born on September 8, 1979, in London. He spent his formative years growing up in West Hampstead. His father served as a minister within the United Reformed Church, influencing aspects of his upbringing. Initially believing he had Belgian ancestry, Jupp later discovered his family roots lie in Sussex. His education included attending The Hall School, St George's School, and Oakham School before pursuing studies in divinity at the University of Edinburgh. While studying at Edinburgh, Jupp honed his comedic talents with the improvised comedy troupe, the Improverts. He began to gain recognition in the comedy world, winning the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year award in 2001. The following year, he received a Perrier Award Best Newcomer nomination for his show 'Gentlemen Prefer Brogues'. His acting career has been diverse, including roles such as Archie, the inventor, in the children's television series Balamory (starting in an unspecified year), and John Duggan in The Thick of It (Series 3 and 4). He also appeared as Nigel McCall in Rev , hosted The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 from 2015 to 2019, and has had cameo appearances in films like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Sherlock Holmes (2009). Jupp’s filmography extends beyond these roles, encompassing parts in Made in Dagenham (2010), Gary: Tank Commander , Johnny English Reborn (2011), and Grimsby (2016). He has also lent his voice to projects such as the adaptation of Watership Down . His appearances on television panel shows like Have I Got News for You and Would I Lie To You? , between 2011 and 2012, further solidified his presence in British comedy. In January 2012, he won Celebrity Mastermind. He has also narrated the BBC television documentary series, Building Dream Homes (2014), and played roles in Journey's End (2017), Father Brown , and The Durrells . Following a diagnosis of a low-grade meningioma in August 2021, which followed a seizure during a car journey, Jupp underwent surgery in September 2021. He continues to be monitored with annual scans and takes preventative medication. Currently, he is touring his new comedy show, 'On I Bang,' addressing his experiences with the brain tumour.

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Mitch Benn

Mitchell John Benn is an English comedian, author, and musician born on January 20, 1970, in Liverpool. During his education, he went to Dovedale Primary School, Liverpool Blue Coat School, and the University of Edinburgh; at the University of Edinburgh, he participated in both the Edinburgh University Theatre Company and the Improverts comedy group. Beginning in 1994, Benn launched his comedy career in Edinburgh. By 1996, he had relocated to London and rapidly gained popularity as a comedian within the UK comedy scene. Within the United Kingdom, he is widely recognized as a leading writer and performer of comedic songs. Benn’s work includes extensive contributions to BBC radio programming. From 1999 to 2016, he was a regular contributor and wrote sketches for BBC Radio 4's The Now Show , and also appeared on BBC Radio 2's It's Been a Bad Week between 2000 and 2006. He created the radio series Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music in 2004, which ran for three series. He currently presents The Mitch Benn Music Show on BBC Radio 7. The song 'Everybody in America is Female' has amassed over one million views. His other popular songs are 'Fuck All', 'Moving to Scotland', and 'Proud of the BBC', for which he was awarded the Media Blog Media Hero Of The Year Award in 2010. He also provides musical contributions to Channel 4’s “Bremner Bird And Fortune,” and functions as the writer and arranger for “The Complaints Choir” on BBC1’s “The One Show.” Beyond radio, Benn has performed at music festivals like Latitude, Bestival, and Glastonbury since 2011 and has appeared regularly at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival since 1989. He has released eight studio albums and over 130 online albums on Bandcamp, with Radio Face released in 2002. In 2013, he published his first science fiction novel, Terra , followed by Terra's World in 2016, and Terra’s War , self-published in 2021, completing a trilogy for teens. He has also taken on acting roles, including playing Zaphod Beeblebrox in a live stage tour of The Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy in 2013 and providing voice acting for projects like Worst Knights Ever , Good Omens , Doctor Who , and the Sandman audiobooks. Benn has presented performances internationally, across countries including Australia, South Africa, India, Singapore, China, and several European nations. He won Celebrity Mastermind in November 2016 (specialist subject: Peter Cook) and currently writes a Substack column.

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Neil Cole

Neil Cole is an English television presenter, comedian, radio broadcaster, and actor. Born in Bristol in 1972, he spent part of his childhood in Allendale, New Jersey, USA. He attended King Edward Grammar School in Chelmsford before pursuing higher education at Bristol University, where he studied English and French Literature. Cole’s career began to take shape in 1998 when he and Tom Hillenbrand won the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition as the stand-up double act Hitchcock's Half Hour. This early success led to supporting roles alongside Harry Hill and Ennio Marchetto in West End Theatres. Cole transitioned to solo stand-up comedy in February 2007, and soon after supported Russell Brand on his UK Tour that summer. He is known for his versatility, encompassing both stand-up and sketch comedy; he was a founder member of the London sketch team The Pros From Dover, who are currently filming a show for Five. In March 2010, he premiered his debut solo show 'Neil By Mouth' at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. His comedic endeavors have also included performing solo character comedy at Probe (Soho Theatre) and Spank! (The Albany), as well as participating in improvisation with London Theatresports and Grand Theft Impro. He has also demonstrated acting talent, starring as Nero in Racine’s Britannicus, which he translated, and taking lead roles in Orton plays such as Loot and The Ruffian On The Stair. Beyond stand-up and sketch work, Cole's career includes significant presenting and broadcasting roles. From 1998 to 2000, he worked as a VJ for MTV Northern Europe, hosting shows like Select, The Fridge, Dance Floor Chart, Euro Top 20, and the MTV Europe Music Awards. He also presented 48 episodes of Sony Pictures Television’s 'Shakedown', traveling internationally. From 2014 to 2022, he served as the live reporter and host for the FIA World Rallycross Championship, and currently presents 'The World Rally Championship' for Dave Channel. His experience extends to covering major sporting events including the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the Race of Champions, the Dakar Rally, two FIFA World Cups, an Olympic Games, and hosting the FIA Awards Ceremony. He has also appeared in recent television productions, notably Call The Midwife (2024) and the science fiction film Sentinel (2024). Currently, he is a regular expert correspondent on BBC Radio London and hosts a regular show on NME Radio.

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Nick Mohammed

Nicholas George Mohammed is a British performer, humorist and author. In Britain he gained recognition for bringing to life the funny persona Mr. Swallow, first heard on radio before moving to the stage and television. He also devised, wrote and headlines the Sky One/Peacock sitcom Intelligence. Internationally, audiences know him for playing Nathan “Nate” Shelley during the first three installments of Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, a role that earned him nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at both the 73rd and 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.

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Nigel Rees

Nigel Thomas Rees, born near Liverpool on June 5, 1944, is a British broadcaster, author, journalist, speaker, and entertainer. He attended Merchant Taylors' School in Crosby and later studied English at New College, Oxford, earning a B.A. with honors in 1967 and an M.A. in 1970. His early career involved participation in the Oxford University Broadcasting Society, setting the stage for his future work in media. After university, he began working in television with Granada in Manchester in 1967, transitioning to roles such as a reporter for ITN's News at Ten. Rees’s career encompasses a wide range of broadcasting experiences. Between 1972 and 1979, he hosted the BBC World Service program Twenty Four Hours; additionally, from 1973 to 1975, he was a frequent presenter on Radio 4’s arts magazine Kaleidoscope. In 1976, he achieved the distinction of being the youngest person ever to regularly present Radio 4's Today programme, a role he maintained for a two-year period. He is particularly recognized for creating and hosting BBC Radio 4’s panel game Quote… Unquote, which aired from 1976 until 2021. He also appeared in various comedy shows including Week Ending..., The Betty Witherspoon Show, and The Burkiss Way, often alongside Chris Emmett. His appearances extended to Channel 4's Countdown for 18 years, and he won Channel 4's Fifteen to One quiz show in 1990. Beyond broadcasting, Rees is a prolific author, having written over fifty books primarily on language and humor. These include 'Quote … Unquote' (1978), and several books related to phrases, slogans, and anecdotes throughout the 1980s and 1990s, such as the 'Graffiti' series. He published his autobiography, My Radio Times, in 2011. Currently, he continues to produce a quarterly electronic publication called "Quote … Unquote" Newsletter and delivers speaking engagements, lectures, and performances on topics like “The Humour of Family Sayings” and “Quoting and Un-quoting.” Nigel Rees resides in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, and can be contacted via email at [email protected]. Unquote" participants from 1976 to 2021.

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Nina Conti

Nina Conti is a British actress, comedian, and ventriloquist born in 1975. Growing up in Hampstead, London, she comes from a theatrical family; her parents are actors Tom Conti and Kara Wilson. Having first studied at King Alfred School in London, she completed her studies at the University of East Anglia in 1995, earning a first-class honours degree in philosophy. Her early career included acting work, beginning in 1996, and a period with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2001, where she learned ventriloquism. Her professional acting journey commenced in 2001 with a position at the Royal Shakespeare Company. She was mentored by experimental theatre director Ken Campbell, a relationship that would later influence her work. Conti’s comedy style blends acting, improvisation, and ventriloquism, frequently involving audience participation. She first gained recognition with the play 'Let Me Out!!!' at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2001. In 2002, she won the BBC New Comedy Awards. Her debut solo show, 'Complete and Utter Conti', premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2007 and proved highly successful, earning her the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2008; she received this award again for the same show. She has appeared in television shows such as Black Books, Holby City, Single, and Spicks and Specks. In 2010, she introduced a puppet character named Granny, and in 2011, she appeared on QI, inheriting the Granny puppet from Ken Campbell. Conti’s performances have sold out venues in cities including Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, and New York, with fans sometimes describing seeing her shows as a 'pilgrimage'. The Maverick Movie Awards recognized her performance in “Her Master’s Voice” with a Best Performance award in 2021; subsequently, she directed her first feature film, the indie production “Sunlight,” in 2023, which critics have characterized as a playfully sardonic love story. "Sunlight" includes a character who refuses to remove a monkey suit. Someone who saw her first film said they 'fell in love'. While she has performed in Edinburgh multiple times, one notable event occurred when a fan made it on stage with her, though not while wearing a mask.

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Norman Evans

Norman Evans, born Norman Gunston on June 11, 1901, in Rochdale, Lancashire, was an English stage and radio comedian. He attended Castlemere Council School and initially held various jobs, beginning as an office boy at Arrow Mills in Castleton before becoming a salesman and insurance agent. While working these roles, he participated in amateur dramatic groups and gained a local reputation for delivering after-dinner speeches. Gracie Fields reportedly discovered him in 1934, though Oswald Stoll had already recognized his potential. Evans turned professional in 1934 and quickly achieved success on national variety tours, marking a significant shift from his earlier commercial endeavors. Evans's comedy was described as “broad boisterous” and praised for its "warmth of personality," often revolving around the persona of Fanny Fairbottom, a Lancastrian housewife. This character, based on his mother, became central to his best-known work, the sketches and programmes titled "Over the Garden Wall." The "Over the Garden Wall" series aired as a BBC radio program in three series, from 1942 to 1950, featuring Betty Jumel as his neighbor. A film adaptation of the same name followed in 1950, starring Jimmy James as his husband. His signature act involved impersonating a gossiping woman leaning over a garden fence, a style that later inspired Les Dawson's own comedic persona. He received top billing at the London Palladium as a pantomime dame and was considered one of the greatest since Dan Leno. Norman Evans’s career extended beyond radio and stage, encompassing film and television appearances. He made his first U.S. appearances in New York in 1949 and had a season at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in 1950, further solidifying his international recognition. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1949 and performed in three Royal Variety Performances (1937, 1947, and 1951). In 1956, he hosted "Saturday Comedy Hour" and starred in "The Norman Evans Show," a six-part BBC series that aired from April to October. A car accident in May 1955 resulted in the loss of his right eye. He continued performing until his death in Blackpool in November 1962, with his final summer season at Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Pwllheli. He is buried in Carleton Cemetery and remembered for influencing comedians like Les Dawson, who credited Evans as the inspiration for his Ada character.

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Olly Mann

Olly Mann, a UK‑based podcaster, broadcaster and BBC on‑air personality, is most widely recognised for fronting LBC’s weekend evening programme and for co‑hosting the prize‑winning podcast Answer Me This! together with his long‑time collaborator Helen Zaltzman.

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Roy Castle

Roy Castle, an English entertainer, made his mark as a dancer, singer, comedian, actor, television presenter and musician. A talented jazz trumpeter, he was likewise adept at playing numerous other instruments. Throughout a multifaceted career that spanned the stage, TV and film, he became most familiar to British viewers as the long‑running host of the children’s series Record Breakers.

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