New Zealander Al Pitcher started comedy in 1999, reaching the finals of the So You Think You’re Funny? new talent competition. He then decided to capitalise on his growing reputation – by becoming a vegetable picker in Naas, Ireland. A couple of years later he returned to stand up, making the final of the Daily Telegraph Open Mic awards.

Since then he has become a regular fixture at the UK’s top clubs. In 2004 he made his solo Edinburgh fringe debut, and now has four full-length shows to his name.

He was invited to appear at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in 2007 and has performed at both the Melbourne and New Zealand comedy festivals.

Pitcher was also the voice of the Fosters Lager commercials, has written for BBC Radio 1 and is an experienced TV warm-up.