Culture, Media and Sport Committee looks at live comedy sector

MPs have been hearing from comics and industry figures this morning as a Parliamentary committee looks at the state of the UK comedy sector.

They were giving evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee  in the first of a series of hearings to be held as part of the State of Play inquiry into the UK creative industries.

The hearing was proposed by the Live Comedy Association, which says the sector is worth around £1billion a year but is troubled by low pay precarious working conditions, and inequalities.

In the first hour, the witnesses were Dr Sharon Lockyer, director of the Centre for Comedy Studies Research based at Brunel University London, Leicester Comedy Festival founder Geoff Rowe and Jessica Toomey, managing director of the Frog and Bucket comedy club in Manchester.  Comics Kate Cheka and Matt Forde gave evidence in the second half, alongside Lynne Parker of Funny Women.

Here's our live blog

Published: 29 Apr 2025