Top 10 funniest British comedians you should definitely check out

Top 10 funniest British comedians you should definitely check out

Britain comedy is one of the major entertainment industries that has existed for many years. The growth is evident due to technological advancement, making it one of the most lucrative careers. Over the years, the country has produced some of the best comedians with huge fanbases around the globe. These are the top British comedians with a great sense of humour.

Top British comedians
Funniest British comedians. Photo: @simonpegg, @nimaxtheatres, @rickygervais on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

British comedy is one of the best globally. The comedians are diverse as they tell jokes on various topics, ranging from dark to observational humour. Some of these comedians have been in the game for decades, and some are relatively new in the scene. These comics share jokes in films as well as in global stand-up comedy arenas. From Rowan Atkinson to Jimmy Carr, here are the funniest comedians in the UK.

Top 10 funniest British comedians

Becoming the best comedian takes hard work and dedication since competition is usually stiff. Here are the top British comedians you should look out for.

Read also

33 famous blond actors making waves in Hollywood and beyond

Russell Howard

Best British comedians
Russell Howard takes part in Red Nose Day 2013 in London. Photo: Trevor Leighton
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 23 March 1980
  • Place of birth: Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Russell Joseph Howard is one of the famous comedians from the UK. He is also an actor, television and radio presenter. Russell became famous for his TV show Russell Howard's Good News and his performance on Mock the Week. The stand-up comedian won the Best Compère at the Chortle Awards in 2006. His show Aberdeen Festival Fringe was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award the same year.

Rowan Atkinson

Funny British comedian
Rowan Atkinson attends the UK Premiere of "Man Vs Bee" at Everyman Borough Yards in London, England. Photo: Karwai Tang
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 6 January 1955
  • Place of birth: County Durham, England, United Kingdom

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is one of the famous British comedians with a huge fanbase worldwide. The actor is renowned for his comedy sketch, Mr Bean. Other movies he has been featured in include Never Say Never Again, The Witches and Four Weddings and a Funeral. In 2003, The Observer listed the comedian as one of the 50 funniest actors in British comedy.

Read also

33 famous Asian actors making strides in Hollywood and beyond

Jimmy Carr

Famous British comedians
Comedian Jimmy Carr visits the SiriusXM Studios in New York City. Photo: Astrid Stawiarz
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 15 September 1972
  • Place of birth: Isleworth, United Kingdom

James Anthony Patrick, best known as Jimmy Carr, is one of the best British stand-up comedians. He is also a TV host and actor, famous for his dark humour and signature laugh. The king of one-liners and controversial jokes always has witty replies for his hecklers which can be brutal at times. Jimmy has hosted numerous shows, including The Big Fat Quiz of the Year and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Michael McIntyre

Top British comedians
Comedian Michael McIntyre poses with his new book 'Life and Laughing' during a signing at Selfridges in London, England. Photo: Bryn Lennon
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 21 February 1976
  • Place of birth: London, England

Michael McIntyre is among the best British stand-up comedians. He is also a writer and presenter. He is best known for his shows Michael McIntyre's Big Show and Michael McIntyre's The Wheel. McIntyre followed in his father's footsteps. His comedy career started in the mid-2000s and has since grown to become one of the funniest British comedians.

Read also

50 most famous A-list celebrities you have definitely heard of

McIntyre has been a presenter for several shows and a Britain Got Talent judge. In 2017, he won the BAFTA award thanks to his Michael McIntyre's Big Show.

John Cleese

British standup comedians
Comedian John Cleese Signs and does a Q&A For "So, Anyway..." held at Barnes & Noble bookstore at The Grove in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Albert L. Ortega
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 27 October 1939
  • Place of birth: Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom

John Cleese is one of the funny British comedians famous for his sketch comedy with Monty Python's Flying Circus. Before comedy, he was a scriptwriter for Broadway and West End shows.

This Cambridge law graduate loves animals and even had a species of lemurs named after him. His role as Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers was the second-best TV character in 2001. He has been featured in other big films such as the James Bond films and the Harry Potter Franchise.

Frankie Boyle

Comedians in the UK
Comedian Frankie Boyle leaves the high Court after winning more than more than 54,000 damages today after a High Court jury concluded that he had been libeled by the Daily Mirror. Photo: Sean Dempsey
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 16 August 1972
  • Place of birth: Pollokshaws, Scotland

Read also

33 famous Canadians you probably didn’t know were from Canada

Frankie Boyle is one of the well-known UK comedians and writers. He is popular for his unapologetic pessimistic, and controversial funny jokes. The comedian rose to fame through his angry rants on Mock The Week. Boyle has been big on political issues such as Brexit and the US elections, which he discussed in Frankie Boyle's New World Order.

Ricky Gervais

Best British standup comedians
Comedian Ricky Gervais during an interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Photo by: Lloyd Bishop
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 25 June 1961
  • Place of birth: Whitley, Reading, England

Ricky Gervais is one of the best British stand-up comedians. He thrust into stardom after featuring in the TV series The Office. After the show, he ventured into stand-up comedy and has performed at many shows. Other films he has featured include Extras, The Invention of Lying and The Night at the Museum trilogy.

Gervais has been criticised for his type of jokes which incorporates dark humour; some critics feel it is insensitive and offensive. This notwithstanding, the comedian has won 27 awards and 65 nominations. Some of his awards include seven BAFTA Awards, five British Comedy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Emmy Awards.

Read also

Male Hallmark actors: channel’s most popular leading men

Sean Lock

British comedians
Comedian Sean Lock performs on stage in London, England. Photo: Jo Hale
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 22 April 1963
  • Place of birth: Chertsey, Surrey, England

Sean Lock was one of the best English comedians. He passed away on 16 August 2021, aged 58, after being in the comedy scene for 28 years.

Lock was also an actor. He won several awards as a stand-up comedian, including the 2000 British Comedy Award in the category of Best Live Comic. Lock's deadpan delivery and dry humour nominated him for the Perrier Comedy Award.

David Mitchell

Funny British comedian
Comedian David Mitchell arrives for the Philips British Academy Television Awards at the London Palladium. Photo: Samir Hussein
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 14 July 1974
  • Place of birth: Salisbury, England

David Mitchell is a famous British comedian well known as the one-half of Mitchell and Webb, together with Robert Webb. The duo also collaborated in other comedy shows such as Peep Show, The Mitchell and Webb Situation and That Mitchell and Webb Sound. His jokes are great for stand-up comedy.

Read also

50 male comedy actors: list of the funniest men in entertainment

Simon Pegg

Funniest British comedians
Actor Simon Pegg poses for a portrait during 2019 Whistler Film Festival at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Canada. Photo: Andrew Chin
Source: Getty Images
  • Date of birth: 14 February 1970
  • Place of birth: Brockworth, England, United Kingdom

Simon Pegg is one of the best British stand-up comedians. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor, writer and producer. He is well known for his nerdy roles. Some notable films he has featured include Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mission: Impossible.

British is home to some of the funniest comedians of all time. British comedians are some of the highest-paid entertainers in the world. Most of these comics are not only known in the UK but have fans around the globe.

Funniest British comedians
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Legit.ng published an article about Nigerian stand-up comedians. Nigeria is home to some of the most talented comedians on the continent. They have a diverse comedy style and have performed at home and internationally.

The Nigerian comedy world has grown over the years, making it one of the well-paying entertainment gigs. The industry has produced some of the most talented and passionate comedians in Africa and beyond.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Naomi Karina avatar

Naomi Karina (Lifestyle writer) Naomi Karina has been a digital content writer for more than two years. She joined the Legit team in August 2022. She graduated Bachelor of Commerce from KCA University in 2012. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Human Resources from the IHRM and a Diploma in Marketing from Kenyatta University. She is a content creator who enjoys writing about various topics such as biographies, entertainment and business. In 2023, Naomi finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She expanded her skills in 2024 by undertaking the Google News Initiative course.

Tags: