(Well, not all of it...)

A disparate group of comedians and comedy industry figures have announced their support for Britain to stay in the EU.

Long-standing europhile Eddie Izzard heads the list of comedy names pledging their voice to the remain campaign – alongside Johnny Vegas and circuit acts such as Rainer Hersch and Kai Humphries.

The group has been put together by the Leicester Comedy Festival, and also includes international promoters such as Mick Perrin Worldwide, Get Comedy and the Latitude Festival, who all believe Brexit will be a setback to the comedy world.

At the moment, comedians from the UK don't need a working visa to perform in an EU country – although that could change if Britain votes to leave the union. This would mean extra expense and red tape – and probably the requirement that comedians could only work in mainland Europe if employed by a promoter, as is the case for American stand-ups. The extra burdens would make it unviable for smaller acts to tour, the group fears.

However, not all comedians are for remaining in the EU, as John Cleese yesterday came out in favour of Leave.

Addressing In campaigner Paddy Ashdown, a former leader of the Lib Dem party he has so often publicly supported, Cleese said: 'If I thought there was any chance of major reform in the EU, I'd vote to stay in. But there isn't. Sad. Sorry, Paddy.'

When asked what reforms Brussels should instigate, Cleese tweeted: 'Give up the euro, introduce accountability and hang [European Commission President] Jean-Claude Juncker.'

Also in favour of Brexit are comedy's bete noire Andrew Lawrence, Dominic Frisby, who is a financial commentator as well as a stand-up, circuit stalwart Geoff Norcott, and former They Think It's All Over team captain Lee Hurst, whose many tweets on the subject include: 'If British voters vote to leave the EU I could not be more proud of them under the onslaught of B/S from Cameron etc'

However Mick Perrin, who has actively promoted acts such as Izzard and Dylan Moran around Europe, said: 'The language of comedy is universal and is one of the last bastions of free speech. Comedy can help heal the wounds of the past and create empathy where misunderstanding once existed.

'In order for comedy to bloom and sustain requires free movement and trade, both in and out. The only borders in comedy is in the minds of dictators and xenophobes. Let's hope the joke is on finally on them'.

Comedian Hersch explained how he benefitted from Britain being in the EU: 'Last week I did a gig in Wuppertal Stadthalle [near Düsseldorf] with my 10 piece orchestra. The orchestra flew, the instruments all went in a van. Got there, did the gig, got paid, went home, end of story.

'That simplicity is mirrored by thousands of other industries for whom Europe is a potential market and would all be a thing of the past if Britain left the EU.'

Jo Brand and Steve Coogan have previously come out as Remainers, having been among the 300 signatures of the so-called 'luvvie letter' urging an In vote, published in May.

The Remain group announced today also includes comedians Matt Green, Wil Hodgson, Tony Jameson and Chris Mayo and The Centre for Comedy Studies Research, the International Comedy Conference, Sweden's Lund Comedy Festival and Norway's Comedy Box Festival.

Published: 13 Jun 2016