It was one of the biggest comedy hits of 2025, but can it repeat its success in 2026? And can Bob Mortimer repeat his success and win Last One Laughing two years in a row? The trailer has just been released for the new series which starts later this month. Could David Mitchell pip Bob? Or Maisie Adam? Watch the trailer and find out more here.
It’s a major month for onscreen comedy with the UK version of Saturday Night Live launching too. The writing team has now been announced. It’s a large, strong team with plenty of names that will be familiar to comedy buffs plus a few nice curveballs. Read all about the backroom joke-builders here.
If you are looking for live stand-up onscreen Scottish rising star Connor Burns’ Glasgow show GALLUS is to be streamed live on March 14th. It’s on the platform Lounges.tv which has not done big live full-length stand-up gigs before so it’ll be interesting to see if this becomes a new regular comedy outlet. Details here. Or you can go and see Paul Smith in the cinema.
And looking further ahead, both Chris Ramsey and Iain Stirling are filming their stand-up shows. You can get tickets for the live events here or wait until they are screened.
On the touring comedy front there have been plenty of announcements this week. Maisie Adam and Alan Davies have both added dates due to demand. Name to watch Jessie Nixon is on the road. Craig Ferguson has announced rescheduled dates. And co-creator and co-star of acclaimed series BROAD CITY, Ilana Glazer (below), has announced dates for her new stand-up comedy tour, Ilana Glazer Live!, stopping in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Bristol. More here.
And Lucy Porter has written a book. Middle-Aged Women Get Sh*t Done: A Manifesto (or a Cry for Help?), is to be published by Wildfire this August. Details here.
A big new comedy festival has been announced for London this summer, combining heavyweights and rising talent under one Big Top Tent from 5th-7th June.
Leading the line-up at the Battersea Park Comedy Festival are Joe Lycett, Sara Pascoe, Simon Amstell, Lucy Beaumont and Simon Brodkin, joined by a curated supporting bill of stand-out comics from the UK circuit and beyond, including Grace Campbell, Schalk Bezuidenhout and Abi Clarke. Each show will see the headline act joined by supporting comedians and a host, with something for everyone to enjoy. Buy tickets and see the full line-up here.
And finally some sad news from the comedy world. Stand up comedian Junior Simpson has been diagnosed with vascular dementia and has had to retire from performing. A gofundme campaign has been set up to support him. You can donate here.
Read more comedy news every day on beyondthejoke.
