Site tries to shed its porn image

Comedians are being asked to put themselves through an unspecified ‘series of challenges’ to win £50,000 from a company best known for home-made porn.

OnlyFans is trying to move away from its X-rated reputation by launching a fund to support creators in other genres, such as fashion and music – and now comedy.

Up-and-coming comedians are being invited to submit a five-minute clip of their work, from which judges London Hughes, Jamali Maddix and Mae Martin will ten pick a shortlist of nine comics who will face the tasks.

Comic Sofie Hagen, pictured, will be setting the challenges, described as being in preparation of performing on stage for a live audience at a London comedy club.  A spokesman told Chortle the show was still in pre-production, ‘so specific challenges haven't been set yet’.

As well as the £50,000 first prize, two runners will get £25,000 each for second and third places. Their efforts will be filmed for the platform’s free on-demand video streaming platform, OFTV.

Launching the scheme, OnlyFans CEO Ami Gan said: ‘I can't wait to see the hilarities that ensue when the finalists take on challenges throughout London – all documented for OFTV.’

While Only Fans is based on users subscribing to content creator’s channels, OFTV is more akin to YouTube. It will air the would-be comics’ efforts sometime next year, with the footage hosted by model turned fashion writer Jack Guinness.

Judge Mae Martin said: ‘I’m thrilled that OnlyFans have created this format to champion new comedy talent, and I can’t wait to watch all the submissions.

‘The prize money is going to help some new original talent create more art for all of us to enjoy and I’m excited to be a part of it!’

Hopefully more Taskmaster than Squid Game, the format seems to have some similarities with ITV’s 2011 reality programme Show Me The Funny, in which established comedians undertook tasks before gigs, such as undergoing Army training before performing to squaddies.

Accounts released earlier this year show OnlyFans’  pre-tax profits rose by 615 per cent to $432m (£400million)  in the 12 months to September 2021 as users sought out online diversions during lockdown.

The site has been credited for putting the power in the hands of sex workers rather than middle-men. Users pay a direct subscription to creators with 80 per cent of revenue going back to those who upload videos. However, success requires creators to produce a constant stream of regular content.

In recent years, the company has tried to reposition itself as a platform for more mainstream entertainment, and a year ago even announced it would ban all explicit adult content. However, it quickly performed a U-turn on that policy.

The site has had only limited success in attracted comedy creators. In 2020, it released a list of 12 comedians with OnlyFans accounts in a bid to attract more. None of those 12 accounts are still active.

Ms Gan added: ‘The creative fund allows OnlyFans to give back to the creator community by providing a unique opportunity for creators to break into challenging industries like comedy. It is important to me that OnlyFans helps recognise and support emerging talents and them having a safe place to express themselves.’

Entries for the comedy challenge are open from now until October 5 here.

It is open to residents of the UK and Ireland aged 18 who consider themselves an up-and-coming comedian. Entry videos may consist of ‘anything funny and original, be that a stand-up set, comedy sketch, improv, or other original content the entrant deems funny’.

Published: 27 Sep 2022