15,900 at O2 gig

Chris Rock has smashed the record for the biggest live comedy gig in Britain – with an audience more than 50 per cent bigger than previous title-holder Lee Evans.

Promoters say the Friday-night gig at London’s O2 Arena was seen by 15,900 fans.

Guinness World Records officials were at the former Millennium Dome to ensure numbers were counted according to strict guidelines, excluding latecomers and those who leave early.

Evans set his record of 10,108 at the MEN Arena in Manchester in 2005. Eddie Izzard could have held the record after selling 13,530 tickets, for his Sexie tour at the same venue in 2003 – but the promoters did not call in adjudicators to verify the audience size.

Guinness officials have not given the final, exact count for Friday’s show yet – but the margin over Evans’s audience is easily big enough to claim the record.

Evans has the chance to win the record back when he performs at the O2 in October.

Meanwhile, club chain Jongleurs has signed a contract to provide regular comedy nights in the O2’s smaller venue, Indigo2, starting this Friday.

Published: 25 May 2008