Gary Delaney named UK's hardest-working comedian

Ahead of Patrick Monahan

Gary Delaney has been named this year’s ‘hardest working comedian’.

The title is bestowed by the Ents24 website based on the highest number of performances for comedians at different venues across the year – so doesn’t take in to account long runs in one venue or club nights where the site does not list specific line-ups – let alone any other work.

Last year’s winner Romesh Ranganathan is nowhere to be seen on the top 20, on which Patrick Monahan, who scooped the title in 2015, is No 2.

Delaney said of his title: ‘When I first started in comedy one of the old hands explained to me that "The job is really driving, the gig is just what you do for a break when you get there". They were right.

‘Being on the road is great because you get to bring your comedy to your audience every night and also because eating most of my meals at service stations gives me the perfect excuse to eat all the things that I really want to eat anyway.

‘I've been in the top five for the last couple of years so it's been my dream to finally make No 1 and empirically prove to my parents that I have a real job. Actually my dream is to get sponsored by KFC and Waze, but this is a close second.

‘I hope to hold onto this award next year when I take my new tour show Gagster's Paradise on the road, though some who have seen the passenger footwell of my car have rudely suggested Ginster's Paradise might be more appropriate.

‘I want to use my new title to help promote world peace, or failing that at least put pressure on the Department of Transport to make available a comprehensive list of which motorways are closed each night.";

Omid Djalili said of his inclusion at No 7: ‘You want a quote about being a busy comedian? Ain't nobody got time f’dat!’

The full top 20 is

1. Gary Delaney
2. Patrick Monahan
3. Andy Parsons
4. Justin Moorhouse
5. Jimmy Carr
6. Joel Dommett
7. Omid Djalili
8. Tom Allen
9. Lee Nelson
10. Jon Richardson
11. Phill Jupitus
12. Jarred Christmas
13. Richard Herring
14. Tom Stade
15. Mark Thomas
16. Sara Pascoe
17. Abi Roberts
18. Rich Hall
19. John Hastings
20. Mike Gunn