List of British comedians

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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.

[edit] Impersonators

Terry Alderton, (Spitting Image) (born 1970)
Ronni Ancona, (Alistair McGowan's Big Impression) (born 1968)
Chris Barrie, (Spitting Image) (born 1960)
Stanley Baxter, (born 1926, radio series such as Stanley Baxter And Friends, plus TV specials)
Paul Burling (born 1970)
Rory Bremner (born 1961)
Phil Cool
Kevin Connelly, (Dead Ringers)
Jon Culshaw, (Dead Ringers, 2DTV) (born 1968)
Bobby Davro (born 1958)
Dawn French (French & Saunders- various people / films / bands) (born 1957)
Mike Hayley
Dave Lamb, (2DTV)(Goodness Gracious Me)
Alistair McGowan, (Alistair McGowan's Big Impression) (born 1964)
Mark Perry, (Dead Ringers, 2DTV)
Jan Ravens, (Dead Ringers, 2DTV) (born 1958)
Jennifer Saunders (French & Saunders- various people / films / bands)
Mike Yarwood (born 1941)
Debra Stephenson (The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson) (born 1972)

[edit] Musical comedians

Les Barker (born 1947)
Bill Bailey, (The Bill Bailey Show) (born 1964)
Mitch Benn (born 1970)
Ivor Biggun, pseudonym of Doc Cox (born 1946)
Simon Brint (comic and composer of themes for numerous TV programmes) (born 1950)
Jasper Carrott (born 1945)
Edwyn Collins (writer and performer: Channel 4's West Heath House and West Heath Yard) (born 1959)
Billy Connolly (born 1942)
Ivor Cutler (1923–2006)
Bernard Cribbins (born 1928)
Angus Deayton (in The Hee Bee Gee Bees) (born 1956)
Richard Digance (born 1949)
Graham Fellows aka John Shuttleworth (born 1959)
Gary Le Strange aka Waen Shepherd (born 1971)
Howard Goodall (humourist and composer of TV theme tunes)
Boothby Graffoe (born 1962)
John Hegley also performs as half of the "Popticians" (born 1953)
Rainer Hersch
Neil Innes (born 1944)
Sid Kipper (real name Chris Sugden) also performed as half of the "Kipper Family" (born 1952)
Andrew Lawrence
Tim Minchin (born 1975)
Bill Oddie (born 1941)
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) (born 1958)
Chris Sievey aka Frank Sidebottom (1955–2010)
Vivian Stanshall (1943–1995)
Flanders and Swann
Jim Tavare (born 1963)
Jake Thackray (1938–2002)
Victoria Wood (born 1953)

[edit] Variety and music-hall comedians

Chesney Allen (1893–1982)
Arthur Askey (1900–1982)
Michael Barrymore (born 1957)
Billy Bennett (1887–1942)
Max Bygraves (born 1922)
Frank Carson (born 1926)
Roy Castle (1932–1994)
Tommy Cooper (1922–1984)
Jimmy Cricket (born 1925)
Leslie Crowther (1933–1996)
Les Dawson (1931–1993)
Ken Dodd (born 1927)
Charlie Drake (1925–2006)
Sid Field (1904–1950)
Bud Flanagan (1896–1968)
Cyril Fletcher (1913–2005)
George Formby (1904–1961)
Bruce Forsyth (born 1928)
Jimmy James (1892–1965)
Roy Jay (d. 2008)
Max Miller (1894–1963)
Spike Milligan (1918–2002)
Bob Monkhouse (1928–2003)
Morecambe and Wise (Eric Morecambe 1926–1984; Ernie Wise 1925–1999)
Des O'Connor (born 1932)
Tom O'Connor (born 1939)
Frank Randle (1901–1957)
Ted Rogers (1935–2001)
George Roper (1934–2003)
Tommy Trinder (1908–1989)
Max Wall (1908–1990)
Charlie Williams (1927–2006)

[edit] 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 (born 1959) (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 (born 1964) (The Green Guide to..)
Joyce Grenfell (1910–1979)
Deryck Guyler (1914–1999)
Tony Hancock (1924–1968) (Hancock's Half Hour)
Tommy Handley (1892–1949) (It's That Man Again)
David Hatch (1939–2007) (I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again)
Jon Holmes (born 1974) (Listen Against, The Now Show)
Kenneth Horne (died 1969) (Round the Horne, Beyond Our Ken)
Roy Hudd (born 1936) (The 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 (born 1962) (On The Hour)
Richard Murdoch (1907–1990) (Much Binding in the Marsh)
Stephen Murray (1912–1983) (The Navy Lark)
Joy Nichols (1925–1992) (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 (1915–1973) (The Navy Lark)
Ted Ray (1905–1977)
Al Read (1909–1987)
Sai Veeraj (1911–1986) (The Ghost)^{[disambiguation needed ]}
Kenneth Williams (1926–1988) (Round the Horne)

[edit] Satirists

Douglas Adams (1952–2001)
Michael "Atters" Attree (born 1965)
John Bird, (Bremner, Bird and Fortune) (born 1936)
Eleanor Bron (born 1938)
Peter Cook (1937–1995)
John Fortune, (Bremner, Bird and Fortune) (born 1939)
Chris Morris (born 1965), (Brass Eye) (born 1962)
Ian Hislop (born 1960), (Private Eye) (born 1960)
Jon Holmes (born 1973)
Armando Iannucci (born 1963)
William Rushton (1937–1996)
Mark Thomas, (The Mark Thomas Comedy Product) (born 1963)

[edit] Comedy panel-game regulars

[edit] A

[edit] B

[edit] C

[edit] 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

[edit] E

Harry Enfield, (Harry Enfield's Television Programme)

[edit] F

[edit] G

[edit] 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)
Richard Herring, (The 99p Challenge)
Sam Hodson, (Satirist, Have I Got News For You, QI)
Ian Hislop, (The News Quiz, Have I Got News for You)
Simon Hoggart, (The News Quiz)
Rufus Hound, (Argumental)
Russell Howard, (Mock the Week, Russell Howard's Good News)
Lee Hurst, (They Think It's All Over)

[edit] I

Richard Ingrams, (The News Quiz)

[edit] J

[edit] L

[edit] M

[edit] N

Derek Nimmo, (Just A Minute)
Ross Noble, (Have I Got News For You, QI)

[edit] P

[edit] R

[edit] S

Linda Smith (The News Quiz, QI)

[edit] 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)

[edit] W

[edit] Sketch show/alternative comedians

Armstrong and Miller
- Alexander Armstrong (born 1970)
- Ben Miller (born 1966)
Brian Conley (born 1961)
Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show) (born 1968)
David Baddiel (The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Fantasy Football League) (born 1964)
Hugh Dennis (The Mary Whitehouse Experience) (born 1962)
Charlie Drake (born 1925)
Adrian Edmondson (born 1957)
Kevin Eldon (Fist of Fun, Big Train, Jam) (born 1960)
Dick Emery (1915-83)
Harry Enfield, (Harry Enfield and Chums) (born 1961)
The Fast Show
- Paul Whitehouse (born 1958)
- Charlie Higson (born 1958)
- Caroline Aherne (born 1963)
- John Thomson (born 1969)
- Simon Day (born 1962)
- Mark Williams (born 1959)
- Arabella Weir (born 1957)
Dawn French, (French and Saunders) (born 1957)
The Goodies
- Tim Brooke-Taylor (born 1940)
- Graeme Garden (born 1943)
- Bill Oddie (born 1941)
Gregor Fisher (Naked Video) (born 1953)
Stephen Fry (A Bit of Fry & Laurie) (born 1957)
Arthur Haynes (1914-56)
Lenny Henry (born 1958)
Benny Hill (1924–1992)
Harry Hill (born 1964)
Dom Joly (born 1967)
John Junkin (1930–2006)
Hugh Laurie (born 1959) (A Bit of Fry & Laurie)
Matt Lucas (Little Britain)
Rik Mayall (born 1958)
Spike Milligan (1918–2002)
David Mitchell (born 1974) (That Mitchell and Webb Look)
Morecambe and Wise
Bob Mortimer (born 1959)
Rob Newman (born 1964) (The Mary Whitehouse Experience)
Peter Richardson , (born 1951) The Comic Strip
Nigel Planer (born 1953)
Steve Punt (born 1962) (The Mary Whitehouse Experience)
Alexei Sayle (born 1952)
Frank Skinner (born 1957)
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 (born 1953)
- Pamela Stephenson (born 1949)
- Mel Smith (born 1952)
Peter Serafinowicz (born 1972)
Vic Reeves (born 1959)
Jennifer Saunders (born 1958)
Smack the Pony
- Fiona Allen (born 1965)
- Doon Mackichan (born 1962)
- Sally Phillips (born 1970)
The Two Ronnies
- Ronnie Barker (1929–2005)
- Ronnie Corbett (born 1931)
David Walliams (Little Britain) (born 1971)
Robert Webb (born 1972) (That Mitchell and Webb Look)
Harry Worth (1917–1989)
The Royle Family
- Ricky Tomlinson (born 1939)
- Caroline Aherne (born 1963)
- Sue Johnston (born 1943)
- Ralf Little (born 1980)
- Liz Smith (born 1921)
- Craig Cash (born 1960)

[edit] Film

Bernard Bresslaw (1934–1993)
Bill Nighy
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)

[edit] Sitcom comedians

See also: British sitcom

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)
Michael Joyce [1964], Never mind the Buzzcocks,8 out of 10 cats
Chris Barrie (born 1960), (Red Dwarf, The Brittams Empire)
Richard Beckinsale (1947–1979), (Porridge, Rising Damp)
Matt Berry (born 1974), (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The IT Crowd, The Mighty Boosh)
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!)
Noel Fielding (born 21 May 1973), (The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd)
Jane Freeman (born 1930s), (Last of the Summer Wine)
Martin Freeman (born 1971), (The Office, Hardware)
Dawn French (born 1957), (The Vicar of Dibley)
Nick Frost (born 1972), (Spaced, Hyperdrive)
Robert Fyfe (born 1925), (Last of the Summer Wine) aka Hooeerr Kins
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)
Robert Llewellyn (born 1956), (Red Dwarf)
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)
Peter Sallis (born 1921) (Last of the Summer Wine)
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 (1915–2010 ) (Wit and Wisdom)

[edit] 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, Peter Serafinowicz Show)
John Oliver, (The Daily Show)

[edit] Stand-up comedians

[edit] Comedy double acts

Alan and Little Alan
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

[edit] Poets with a comedic bent

[edit] Blog and internet humourists

Rhodri Marsden

[edit] 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)

[edit] Raconteurs and after-dinner speakers

Barry Cryer (born 1935)
Lance Percival (born 1933)
Peter Ustinov (1921–2004)
Rick Wakeman (born 1949)
Kenneth Williams (1926–1988)

[edit] See also

	Biography portal
	Comedy portal
	Lists portal
	United Kingdom portal

[edit] External links

British Northern comedians

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_British_comedians&oldid=473589115"

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