Gina Yashere and Piff The Magic Dragon among acts on US show

British comics Gina Yashere and Piff The Magic Dragon are to take part in a new televised comedy competition in America.

They are two of the 32 comedians taking part in a seven-week knockout competition  to create their own comedy videos from home.

To be hosted by former Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis, the Tournament Of Laughs will challenge them to film stand-up routines, sketches, song parodies and more.

Viewers will then get to vote on the best, with eliminations each week.

Other comedians taking part are  Jeff Ross, Margaret Cho, Gilbert Gottfried, Judah Friedlander, Michael Rapaport, Jim Norton, Fortune Feimster, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Natasha Leggero, Cameron Esposito, Godfrey, The Sklar Brothers, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Josh Wolf, Clayton English, Yamaneika Saunders,  Tim Dillon, Moshe Kasher, Jessica Kirson, Paul Rodriguez, Sarah Tiana, Matteo Lane, Beth Stelling, Vladimir Caamano, Ian Edwards, Aida Rodriguez, Megan Gailey, and Preacher Lawson.

The series will launch on the TBS network in the States from June 21.

Brett Weitz, general manager of the station, said: ‘We may be without some of our favourite sports right now but we can still partake in some fierce rivalries.

‘These comics promise to bring the funny each week, but the audience will get to decide who gets the last laugh.’

Both Gina and Piff - real name John van der Put – now live in the US. Yashere moved after becoming frustrated by the lack of opportunities for black comics in the UK and is now behind the CBS show Bob Hearts Abishola, while Piff landed a Vegas residency on the back of a memorable appearance on America’s Got Talent in 2015.

The series will make a charitable donation to the United Nations Foundation’s Covid-19 fund and Black Lives Matter.

Published: 5 Jun 2020