This is a list of comedians of British birth or famous mainly in Britain. Many of the comedy panel-game regulars and sitcom actors may not be regarded as comedians by some people but they are included here because this page uses the word "comedian" in its broadest possible sense. Fictional comedians are not included.
Impersonators
- Terry Alderton, (Spitting Image)
- Ronni Ancona, (Alistair McGowan's Big Impression)
- Chris Barrie, (Spitting Image)
- Stanley Baxter, (born 1926, radio series such as Stanley Baxter And Friends, plus TV specials)
- Rory Bremner (born 1961)
- Phil Cool
- Kevin Connelly, (Dead Ringers)
- Jon Culshaw, (Dead Ringers, 2DTV)
- Bobby Davro
- Dawn French (French & Saunders- various people / films / bands)
- Mike Hayley
- Dave Lamb, (2DTV)(Goodness Gracious Me)
- Alistair McGowan, (Alistair McGowan's Big Impression)
- Mark Perry, (Dead Ringers, 2DTV)
- Jan Ravens, (Dead Ringers, 2DTV)
- Jennifer Saunders (French & Saunders- various people / films / bands)
- Mike Yarwood
- Debra Stephenson (The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson)
Musical comedians
- Les Barker
- Bill Bailey, (The Bill Bailey Show)
- Mitch Benn
- Ivor Biggun, pseudonym of Doc Cox
- Simon Brint (comic and composer of themes for numerous TV programmes)
- Jasper Carrott
- Edwyn Collins (writer and performer: Channel 4's West Heath House and West Heath Yard)
- Billy Connolly
- Ivor Cutler
- Bernard Cribbins (born 1928)
- Angus Deayton (in The Hee Bee Gee Bees)
- Richard Digance
- Graham Fellows aka John Shuttleworth
- Gary Le Strange aka Waen Shepherd
- Howard Goodall (humourist and composer of TV theme tunes)
- Boothby Graffoe
- John Hegley also performs as half of the "Popticians"
- Neil Innes (born 1944)
- Sid Kipper also performed as half of the "Kipper Family"
- Andrew Lawrence
- Bill Oddie
- Philip Pope (comic actor and composer of TV theme tunes)
- Rowland Rivron (Drummer in comedy band Raw Sex and presenter of BBC Radio 2's Jammin)
- Chris Sievey aka Frank Sidebottom
- Vivian Stanshall (1943–1995)
- Flanders and Swann
- Jim Tavare
- Jake Thackray
- Victoria Wood (born 1953)
Variety and music hall comedians
- Chesney Allen
- Arthur Askey
- Michael Barrymore
- Billy Bennett (1887–1942)
- Max Bygraves (born 1922)
- Frank Carson
- Roy Castle (1932–1994)
- Tommy Cooper (1922–1984)
- Jimmy Cricket
- Leslie Crowther (1933–1996)
- Les Dawson (1931–1993)
- Ken Dodd (born 1927)
- Charlie Drake
- Sid Field
- Bud Flanagan
- Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005)
- George Formby
- Bruce Forsyth (born 1928)
- Jimmy James (1892–1965)
- Roy Jay
- Max Miller
- Spike Milligan
- Bob Monkhouse (1928–2003)
- Morecambe and Wise
- Des O'Connor
- Frank Randle
- Ted Rogers (1935–2001)
- George Roper (1934–2003)
- Tommy Trinder (1909–1989)
- Max Wall
- Charlie Williams
Radio comedians
- Michael Bentine (1922–1996), (The Goon Show)
- Dick Bentley (1907–1995) (Take It From Here)
- Tim Brooke-Taylor (born 1940) (I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue)
- John Cleese (born 1939) (I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue)
- Jimmy Edwards (1920–1988) (Take It From Here)
- Graham Fellows (plays the characters Jilted John, John Shuttleworth and Brian Appleton)
- Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005)
- Ronald Frankau (1894–1951)
- Graeme Garden (born 1943) (I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue)
- Jeff Green, (The Green Guide to..)
- Joyce Grenfell (1910–1979)
- Deryck Guyler (1914–1999)
- Tony Hancock (1924–1968) (Hancock's Half Hour)
- Tommy Handley (1892–1949) (ITMA)
- David Hatch, (I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again)
- Kenneth Horne (died 1969), (Round the Horne, Beyond Our Ken)
- Roy Hudd (born 1936) (News Huddlines)
- Jo Kendall, (I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue)
- Bill Kerr (born 1922) (Hancock's Half Hour)
- Betty Marsden (1919–1998)
- Spike Milligan (1918–2002), (The Goon Show)
- Chris Morris, (On The Hour)
- Richard Murdoch, (Much Binding in the Marsh)
- Stephen Murray (1912–1983) (The Navy Lark)
- Joy Nichols, (Take It From Here)
- Bill Oddie (born 1941) I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
- Jon Pertwee (1919–1996) The Navy Lark
- Bill Pertwee (born 1926) (Beyond Our Ken, Round the Horne)
- Harry Secombe (1921–2001), (The Goon Show)
- Peter Sellers (1925–1980), (The Goon Show)
- Mark Steel, (The Mark Steel Solution, The Mark Steel Revolution, The Mark Steel Lectures)
- Hugh Paddick (1915–2000)
- Leslie Phillips (born 1924) (The Navy Lark)
- Dennis Price, (The Navy Lark)
- Ted Ray (1905–1977)
- Al Read
- Kenneth Williams (1926–1988) (Round the Horne)
Satirists
- Douglas Adams (1952–2001)
- Michael "Atters" Attree (born 1965)
- John Bird, (Bremner, Bird and Fortune)
- Eleanor Bron
- Peter Cook (1937–1995)
- John Fortune, (Bremner, Bird and Fortune)
- Chris Morris (born 1965), (Brass Eye)
- Ian Hislop (born 1960), (Private Eye)
- Armando Iannucci
- William Rushton
- Mark Thomas, (The Mark Thomas Comedy Product)
Comedy panel game regulars
A
B
- Bill Bailey, (Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Space Cadets, QI)
- Frankie Boyle, (Mock The Week), (Argumental), (Would I Lie To You?),
- Jo Brand, (QI)
- Rob Brydon, (QI, Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year)
- Rory Bremner, (Mock The Week, Whose Line is it Anyway?)
- Dara Ó Briain, (Mock The Week, QI), (Irish)
C
- Alan Carr (The Sunday Night Project, The Friday Night Project, Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong)
- Jimmy Carr (8 Out of 10 Cats, QI, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year)
- Craig Charles, (Space Cadets)
- Alan Coren, (The News Quiz, Call My Bluff)
- Barry Cryer, (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue)
D
- Alan Davies, (QI)
- Angus Deayton, (Would I Lie To You?, former chair of Have I Got News for You)
- Jack Dee, (It's Only TV But I Like It, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year)
- Hugh Dennis, (Mock The Week)
- Omid Djalili, Omid Djalili on BBC series and ...
E
F
- Clement Freud, (Just A Minute)
- Stephen Fry, (QI)
- Noel Fielding, (Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, The Mighty Boosh)
G
- Graeme Garden, (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue)
- Jeff Green, (Shoot the Messenger, Jo Brand's Hot Potatoes)
- Dave Gorman, (Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive,, QI)
- Rhod Gilbert
H
- Andy Hamilton, (The News Quiz, Have I Got News For You, QI)
- Nick Hancock (born 1962), (They Think It's All Over)
- Jeremy Hardy, (The News Quiz, If I Ruled The World, QI)
- Tony Hawks (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue)
- Ian Hislop, (The News Quiz, Have I Got News for You)
- Simon Hoggart, (The News Quiz)
- Russell Howard, (Mock The Week)
- Richard Herring, (The 99p Challenge)
I
J
L
- Rod Liddle, (Call My Bluff)
- Sean Lock, (Have I Got News For You, QI, 8 Out Of 10 Cats)
- Humphrey Lyttelton, (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue)
M
- Rory McGrath (They Think It's All Over)
- Paul Merton, (Have I Got News for You)
- Arthur Marshall, (Call My Bluff)
- Robert Morley, (Call My Bluff)
- Frank Muir, (Call My Bluff)
- David Mitchell, (QI, Would I Lie To You?, Mock The Week, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, The Unbelievable Truth)
N
P
R
- Jonathan Ross, (They Think It's All Over, It's Only TV But I Like It, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year), The Jonathan Ross Show
- Willie Rushton, (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue)
- Robin Ray, (Call My Bluff)
S
T
- Tim Brooke-Taylor, (I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue)
- Sandi Toksvig, (Call My Bluff, chair of The News Quiz)
- Barry Took, (The News Quiz)
W
Sketch show/alternative comedians
- Armstrong and Miller
- Brian Conley
- David Baddiel (The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Fantasy Football League)
- Hugh Dennis (The Mary Whitehouse Experience)
- Charlie Drake (born 1925)
- Adrian Edmondson
- Kevin Eldon (Fist of Fun, Big Train, Jam)
- Dick Emery
- Harry Enfield, (Harry Enfield and Chums)
- The Fast Show
- Dawn French, (French and Saunders)
- The Goodies
- Gregor Fisher (Naked Video)
- Stephen Fry (A Bit of Fry and Laurie)
- Arthur Haynes
- Lenny Henry (born 1958)
- Benny Hill (1924–1992)
- Harry Hill
- Dom Joly
- John Junkin
- Hugh Laurie (born 1959) (A Bit of Fry and Laurie)
- Matt Lucas (Little Britain)
- Rik Mayall
- Spike Milligan
- David Mitchell (That Mitchell and Webb Look)
- Morecambe and Wise
- Bob Mortimer
- Rob Newman (The Mary Whitehouse Experience)
- Peter Richardson , The Comic Strip
- Nigel Planer
- Steve Punt (The Mary Whitehouse Experience)
- Alexei Sayle
- Frank Skinner
- Monty Python
- Graham Chapman (1941–1989)
- John Cleese (born 1939)
- Terry Gilliam (born 1940)
- Eric Idle (born 1943)
- Terry Jones (born 1942)
- Michael Palin (born 1943)
- Not the Nine O'Clock News
- Rowan Atkinson (born 1955)
- Griff Rhys Jones
- Pamela Stephenson (born 1949)
- Mel Smith (born 1952)
- Vic Reeves
- Jennifer Saunders
- Smack the Pony
- The Two Ronnies
- Ronnie Barker
- Ronnie Corbett (born 1931)
- David Walliams (Little Britain)
- Robert Webb (That Mitchell and Webb Look)
- Harry Worth (1917–1989)
- Paul Whitehouse (born 1958) (Harry Enfield and Chums, The Fast Show)
Film
- Bernard Bresslaw (1934–1993)
- John Cleese (born 1939), (Monty Python films)
- Robbie Coltrane (born 1950)
- Steve Coogan
- Ade Edmondson, (Guest House Paradiso)
- Lee Evans (born 1964)
- George Formby (1904–1961)
- Nick Frost, (Shaun of the Dead)
- Martin Freeman
- Marty Feldman (1933–1982)
- Will Hay (1888–1949)
- Eric Idle (born 1943), (Monty Python films)
- Sid James (1913–1976) (Carry On films)
- Rik Mayall, (Drop Dead Fred)(Guest House Paradiso)
- Dudley Moore (1935–2002) (Arthur, 10)
- Simon Pegg, (Shaun of the Dead)
- Leonard Rossiter (1926-1984)
- Peter Sellers (1925–1980), (Dr. Strangelove, Inspector Clouseau films)
- Eric Sykes (born 1923)
- Kenneth Williams (1926–1988), (Carry On films)
- Norman Wisdom (born 1915)
- Monty Python
- Russell Brand (St Trinians, Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
Sitcom comedians
(See also: British sitcoms)
- Rowan Atkinson (born 1955), (Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line, Mr. Bean)
- Richard Ayoade (born 1977), (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The IT Crowd)
- Bill Bailey (born 1964), (Spaced, Black Books)
- Ronnie Barker (1929–2005), (Porridge, Open All Hours)
- Chris Barrie (born 1960), (Red Dwarf, The Brittas Empire)
- Richard Beckinsale (1947-1979), (Porridge, Rising Damp)
- Matt Berry (born 1974), (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The IT Crowd)
- James Bolam (born 1938), (The Likely Lads, Only When I Laugh)
- Richard Briers (born 1934), (The Good Life), (Ever Decreasing Circles)
- Kathy Burke (born 1964), (Gimme Gimme Gimme)
- Patrick Cargill (1918-1996), (Father, Dear Father)
- John Challis (born 1942), (Only Fools and Horses, The Green Green Grass)
- Craig Charles (born 1964), (Red Dwarf)
- John Cleese (born 1939), (Fawlty Towers)
- Ronnie Corbett (born 1930), (Sorry!)
- Michael Crawford (born 1942), (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em)
- Windsor Davies (born 1930), (It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Never the Twain)
- Julia Davis (born 1966), (Nighty Night)
- Richard Dawson (born 1932), (Hogan's Heroes)
- Angus Deayton (born 1956), (Nighty Night, One Foot in the Grave)
- James Dreyfus (born 1968), (The Thin Blue Line, My Hero, Gimme Gimme Gimme)
- Paul Eddington (1927-1995), (The Good Life, Yes Minister)
- Adrian Edmondson (born 1957), (The Young Ones, Bottom)
- Jimmy Edwards (1920-1988), (Whack-O!)
- Martin Freeman (born 1971), (The Office, Hardware)
- Dawn French (born 1957), (The Vicar of Dibley)
- Nick Frost (born 1972), (Spaced, Hyperdrive)
- Ricky Gervais (born 1961), (The Office, Extras)
- Tamsin Greig (born 1967), (Black Books, Green Wing)
- Deryck Guyler (1914-1999) (Please Sir!, Sykes)
- Tony Hancock (1924-68), (Hancock's Half Hour)
- Jane Horrocks (born 1964), (Absolutely Fabulous)
- Karl Howman (born 1952), (Brush Strokes)
- John Inman (1935-2007), (Are You Being Served)
- David Jason (born 1940), (Only Fools and Horses, Open All Hours)
- Danny John-Jules (born 1960) (Red Dwarf)
- Peter Kay (born 1973) (Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere)
- Gorden Kaye (born 1941), ('Allo 'Allo!)
- Penelope Keith (born 1940), (To the Manor Born)
- John Le Mesurier (1912-1983), (Dad's Army)
- Robert Lindsay (born 1949), (Citizen Smith, Nightingales, My Family)
- Roger Lloyd Pack (born 1944), (Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley)
- Arthur Lowe (1915-1982), (Dad's Army, Bless Me Father)
- Joanna Lumley (born 1947), (Absolutely Fabulous)
- Nicholas Lyndhurst (born 1961), (Only Fools and Horses, Butterflies, Goodnight Sweetheart)
- Rik Mayall (born 1958), (The Young Ones, Bottom, The New Statesman)
- Stephen Merchant (born 1974) (The Office, Extras)
- David Mitchell (born 1974) (Peep Show)
- Warren Mitchell (born 1926), (Till Death Us Do Part)
- Dermot Morgan, (born in Ireland 1952-1998), (Father Ted)(Irish)
- Brian Murphy (born 1933), (Man About the House, George and Mildred, Last of the Summer Wine)
- Al Murray (born 1968), (Time Gentlemen Please)
- Paul Nicholas (born 1945), (Just Good Friends)
- Ardal O'Hanlon (born in Ireland 1965), (Father Ted, My Hero) (Irish)
- Bill Owen (1914-99), (Last of the Summer Wine)
- Geoffrey Palmer (born 1927), (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Butterflies, As Time Goes By)
- Simon Pegg (born 1970), (Spaced)
- Bill Pertwee (born 1926), (Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum)
- Tony Robinson (born 1946), (Blackadder)
- Leonard Rossiter (1926-84), (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Rising Damp)
- Andrew Sachs (born 1930) (Fawlty Towers)
- Jennifer Saunders (born 1958) (Absolutely Fabulous)
- Julia Sawalha (born 1968), (Absolutely Fabulous)
- Eric Sykes (born 1923), (Sykes)
- Reg Varney (born 1916), (The Rag Trade, On The Buses)
- Gary Waldhorn (born 1943), (Brush Strokes, The Vicar of Dibley)
- Rudolph Walker (born 1939), (Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line)
- Robert Webb (born 1972) (Peep Show, The Smoking Room)
- June Whitfield (born 1925), (Terry and June, Absolutely Fabulous)
- Brian Wilde (born 1921), (Last of the Summer Wine, Porridge)
- Richard Wilson (born 1936), (Only When I Laugh, One Foot in the Grave)
- Sir Norman Wisdom (born 1915 ) (Wit and Wisdom)
Spoof show comedians
- Sacha Baron Cohen, (The 11 O'Clock Show, Da Ali G Show)
- Steve Coogan, (Knowing Me, Knowing You)
- Ricky Gervais, (The Office)
- Matthew Holness, (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace)
- Paul Kaye (aka Denis Penis)
- Chris Langham, (People Like Us)
- Doon Mackichan, (Brass Eye, Knowing Me, Knowing You)
- Chris Morris (born 1965), (Brass Eye, Blue Jam, The Day Today)
- Peter Serafinowicz, (Look Around You)
- John Oliver, (The Daily Show)
Stand-up comedians
- Russ Abbott
- Terry Alderton
- Bill Bailey
- Julian Barratt
- Alistair Barrie
- Aaron Barschak
- Adam Bloom
- Jo Brand
- Russell Brand
- Roy 'Chubby' Brown
- Rhona Cameron
- Alan Carr
- Jimmy Carr
- Bobby Carroll
- Jasper Carrott
- Ted Chippington
- Julian Clary
- Phil Cool
- Billy Connolly (born 1942)
- Jim Davidson (born 1954)
- Jack Dee (born 1962)
- Ken Dodd (born 1927)
- James Donlan (born 1964)
- Ben Elton (born 1959)
- Lee Evans (born 1964)
- Simon Fanshawe (born 1956)
- Noel Fielding
- Ricky Gervais
- Rhod Gilbert
- Janey Godley
- Dave Gorman
- Boothby Graffoe
- Jeff Green (born 1964)
- Malcolm Hardee
- Mike Harding
- Jeremy Hardy
- Richard Herring
- Dominic Holland
- Russell Howard
- Frankie Howerd (1917–1992)
- Eddie Izzard (born 1962)
- Jimmy Jones
- Phill Jupitus
- Phil Kay
- Peter Kay (born 1971)
- Shappi Khorsandi
- Andrew Lawrence stand-up known for his surreal and, at times, gruesome material
- Stewart Lee
- Josie Long
- Norman Lovett
- Lee Mack
- John Maloney (comedian) (The Stand Up Show)
- Jason Manford
- Bernard Manning
- Michael Mcintyre
- Shazia Mirza
- Patrick Monahan (comedian)
- Andrew O'Neill
- Ross Noble
- Sue Perkins
- Jon Richardson (entertainer)
- George Roper (1934–2003)
- Frank Skinner
- Freddie Starr
- Mark Steel
- Dave Thompson
- Johnny Vegas
- Tim Vine
- Rick Wakeman (born 1949)
- Stu Who? (1949- )
- Mike Wozniak
- Andy Zaltzman
Comedy double acts
- Armstrong and Miller
- Baddiel and Skinner
- Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding
- Cannon and Ball
- Flanagan and Allen (also appeared as part of The Crazy Gang)
- Flanders and Swann
- French and Saunders
- Fry and Laurie
- Hale and Pace
- Hinge and Bracket
- Lee & Herring
- Little and Large
- Matt Lucas and David Walliams (Little Britain)
- Mel and Sue
- Mitchell and Webb
- Morecambe and Wise
- Naughton and Gold (also appeared as part of The Crazy Gang)
- Nervo and Knox (also appeared as part of The Crazy Gang)
- Newman and Baddiel
- Parsons and Naylor
- Peter Cook and Dudley Moore
- Punt and Dennis
- Reeves and Mortimer
- Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones
- The Two Ronnies
Poets with a comedic bent
- Pam Ayres (born 1947)
- Penny Broadhurst
- John Cooper Clarke
- Ivor Cutler
- Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005)
- John Hegley
- Rory Motion
- Henry Normal
- Rogan Whitenails
- Lemn Sissay
- Stanley Unwin (1911–2002)
Blog and internet humourists
Cartoonists, Caricaturists etc.
- Barry Appleby (1909–1996) (Skit and Skat) (The Gambols)
- George Cruikshank (1792–1878)
- Chris Donald (born 1960), (Viz)
- Ricky Gervais (Flanimals)
- James Gillray (1757–1815)
- William Hogarth (1697–1764)
- Bill Tidy (born 1933)
Raconteurs and noted after dinner speakers
- Barry Cryer (born 1935)
- Lance Percival (born 1933)
- Peter Ustinov (1921–2004)
- Rick Wakeman (born 1949)
- Kenneth Williams (1926–1988)
See also: List of comedians
See also
External links
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