'In some ways, it's the best year ever'

Leicester Comedy Festival organisers are hailing this year’s virtual event a success after selling more than 20,000 tickets.

The three-week festival was seen by comedy fans in Australia, the USA, Sweden, Cyprus, Belgium and Berlin, as well as across the UK, with 86 per cent of ticket-buyers new to the festival. 

Events streamed via NextUp and other platforms including Twitch, Facebook Live and YouTube featured Tom Allen, Ed Byrne, Nina Conti, Stewart Lee, Al Murray, Zoe Lyons and more.

A version of Mark Watson, Tin Key and Alex Horne’s show No More Jockeys Live! became the fastest-selling show in the festival’s 28-year history, shifting 500 tickets in  13 hour.

Festival founder Geoff Rowe said: ‘The last 19 days have been just incredible and I want to thank all those who took part. 

‘It’s true to say that the last 12 months have been really difficult but Leicester Comedy Festival has, in some ways, had the best year ever.  To have attracted so many new people to the festival, from around the globe, is fantastic. 

‘We very much hope many of them will visit the festival in real life next February.’

Published: 22 Feb 2021