ive Comedy Day (LCD), the brand new national day of celebration for the UK’s live comedy sector, has announced a further wave of high-profile Comedy Ambassadors ahead of its inaugural event on 1st April 2026.
Newly confirmed ambassadors include Shaparak Khorsandi, Mark Watson, Ignacio Lopez, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Kiri Pritchard-McLean, who join previously announced ambassadors Joe Lycett, Maisie Adam, Chris McCausland, Daliso Chaponda, Slim, Sindhu Vee and Nish Kumar in supporting the initiative.
Shaparak Khorsandi said: “Live Comedy Day? Thank you! Finally! Stand-up comedy is a medium that requires the grassroots circuit. That’s where I came up; it’s where all the comics that you love came up, on the comedy circuit at festivals, at rooms above pubs. It is the most exciting place to go as a punter, to go as a comedian and to learn your craft.”
They join the growing group of ambassadors supporting the initiative, helping to champion grassroots venues, promoters and festivals that form the backbone of the UK’s globally respected live comedy ecosystem.
A brand new annual national day of celebration, Live Comedy Day was announced earlier this year to recognise the vital role live comedy plays in the UK’s economy, cultural identity, and creative future. The inaugural Live Comedy Day will take place on 1st April 2026, with comedy shows, performances and events happening across the country. The event will become an annual fixture, showcasing the breadth and strength of the UK’s live comedy industry.
Set up by the Live Comedy Association (LCA), in partnership with BBC Radio 4, Live Comedy Day recognises a sector that contributes over £1 billion to the UK economy and supports thousands of jobs, from performers and promoters to venues, technicians and festivals. The announcement follows the UK Live Comedy Sector Survey 2025, which highlighted the significant economic, social and cultural impact of grassroots live comedy across the UK.
The UK is internationally recognised as a global powerhouse for comedy, producing world-class talent and formats enjoyed worldwide. At the heart of this success is a thriving grassroots live comedy network - community clubs, independent venues, festivals and regional promoters - which nurtures new voices and launches the comedy stars of tomorrow.
Additional shows have been confirmed as part of the Live Comedy Day programme; James Acaster will perform at Hackney Empire, and tickets for John Bishop at Komedia Bath go on sale today. These shows will join a previously announced wide-ranging programme of performances and special events taking place across the UK on 1 April 2026. This includes Terry Alderton & Friends in Somerset; Nick Mohammed at the London Palladium; Chris McCausland in Plymouth; Pierre Novellie in Portsmouth; Mario Adrion at The Glee Club, Glasgow; Angel Comedy Social Club at The Bill Murray in London; Comedy Translates, a Welsh-language comedy show interpreted live into English in Wales; Live Comedy Day at The Boat Show Comedy Club in London; Nice N’ Spiky Comedy at Fulham Pier; The Alternative Black Cabaret Showcase in Liverpool; and Ria Lina, Sara Barron, Marlon Davis, Valeria Vulpe and Joe Bor at The 99 Club, Leicester Square, London.
More shows are listed at www.livecomedyday.co.uk, with further events and ambassadors expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Venues, promoters, festivals and performers across the UK are invited to take part in Live Comedy Day. Any live comedy show taking place on 1st April can be registered free of charge on the Live Comedy Day website and will be included in the national listings of events. Registered shows will be promoted as part of Live Comedy Day activity and may receive local and national media coverage.
Organisers are encouraged to mark the day in distinctive ways, from hosting one-off performances or free shows, to staging special events that highlight the role live comedy plays in local communities. Participating venues and promoters will have access to official Live Comedy Day branding and digital materials to ensure visibility across the campaign.
Live Comedy Day is supported by the Live Comedy Association, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. Organisations and brands interested in supporting the initiative are encouraged to make contact.
