Eddie Kadi's ambitious gig

A relatively unknown British comedian is attempting to sell out London’s vast O2 Arena.

Eddie Kadi is the first black UK comic to headline the former Millennium Dome, which has previously hosted gigs by the likes of Chris Rock, Michael McIntyre and Russell Brand.

The arena has a maximum capacity of more than 20,000 – although it will be configured to seat 8,000 when 26-year-old Kadi plays on September 4.

And, perhaps acknowledging the task ahead of him, the comedian issued a statement urging his fans to book blocks of ten tickets at £25 each – then propagate the sale like a pyramid scheme.

He said: ‘Have you got your ten?  Comedy is always better shared and this is definitely a night you’re going to want to look back on with family and friends - so this year, ten is the magic number.  Bring your ten and get them to bring their ten...let’s start a chain reaction!’

Kadi, who can sometimes be heard on BBC 1Xtra, started comedy in 2002, and four years later was named best comedy newcomer at the Black Entertainment Comedy Awards

Last year, he twice performed to around 1,700 people in the O2’s smaller venue IndigO2 – where he had a string of guests including Ms Dynamite and Britain’s Got Talent dance troupe Diversity – prompting his managers Black Grape Productions to book out the main space.

Calling him ‘one of the most popular comedians on the scene,’ his publicist sad: ‘He is often asked to host industry events, behind the scene footage of video shoots including Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk and consistently sells out his gigs’.

Click here for tickets to the O2 gig, and here is a trailer for it:

Published: 3 Feb 2010