Best-paid comics named

Sacha Baron Cohen is Britain’s highest-earning comedy star, according to new figures.

The Sun has compiled a top 40 of comics based on their earnings this year, and reckons the 39-year has earned £8million from his movie projects.

In equal second place, earning £7million apiece, are Ricky Gervais, Rowan Atkinson and Peter Kay, who is now doing his first major tour in seven years.

The top ten is

1. Sacha Baron Cohen £8m
2=Ricky Gervais £7m
2= Rowan Atkinson £7m
2= Peter Kay £7m
5 Lee Evans £5.5m
6= Steve Coogan £5m
6= Jimmy Carr £5m
8 Frankie Boyle £4.5m
9= Russell Brand £4m
9= Eddie Izzard £4m

These are followed by Harry Hill, Omid Djalili, Graham Norton, Jason Manford and Alan Carr.

Michael McIntyre, often seen as Britain’s biggest stand-up star, only comes in at number 16 with £2million earnings, as he is not touring this year.

However, the list has some notable exceptions, suggesting large gaps in its research, such Billy Connolly and old-school acts such as Roy Chubby Brown who is always gigging and is a reliable DVD seller. According to The Sun, they earn less than Chris Addison, who they place at No 40 with a relatively modest £150,000 a year.

Published: 21 Oct 2010