Des Clarke & His Showbiz Pals (WIP)

On Wednesday 4th March Scottish comedian, presenter and all round legend DES CLARKE is bringing a last-minute special work-in-progress show to Blackfriars Basement, and it’s the only place you’ll find THREE HEADLINER COMEDIANS on the same show for such good value. As well as the wonderful JAY LAFFERTY hosting, you’ll get a very special big name mystery guest with multiple TV appearances and regularly sold-out theatre shows.

Multi-award winning Des Clarke is one of the UK’s most exciting performers. He has made a name for himself as both a highly successful comedian and one of television and radio’s star presenters. You may have seen him on SM:TV Live, Breaking The News, Des Doesn’t Do, Hogmanay Live, Sport Relief Tryathlon, STV Appeal, Andy Murray Live, Club Cupid, Sportsround and Children in Need to name but a few. He also hosted the live Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony to a global TV audience of 1 billion viewers.

Stand-up comedy remains Des’s first love and he performs his own solo shows annually at the Edinburgh Fringe and Glasgow Comedy Festival. He has toured the world with his unique brand of observational humour, appearing on stage in New York, Dubai, Australia and Los Angeles. Des has also received critical acclaim for his comedy, winning Chortle Best Newcomer and the ITV Golden Mic Award.

“May actually be the funniest man I’ve ever seen… Absolutely excellent.” – BBC

“Touched by genius… His comedy was astonishing and indescribably funny leaving the audience breathless.” – Edinburgh Evening News

“Onstage he is a racing car wrapped in an express train inside a space rocket.” – Sunday Herald

Our very special mystery guest of the evening is indisputably one of the biggest acts working in Scottish comedy today. Having made multiple TV appearances, they’ve also had sell-out Edinburgh Fringe shows and theatre runs. They’ve been awarded multiple Scottish Comedy Awards accolades, and attracted glowing praise from Kevin Bridges, Fred MacAulay and even Sir Billy Connolly! They can’t be named for contractual reasons, but we can assure you they won’t disappoint!

Your host for the evening will be the wonderful Jay Lafferty! Jay has performed all over the UK as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Reykjavik and Amsterdam. An experienced compere and stand-up, Jay’s friendly and relaxed persona allows her to get away with the darker jokes that punctuate her material. An experienced writer and performer, Jay has worked on a number of hit BBC Scotland and BBC Four radio shows and one of the longest running panellist on Radio Scotland's Breaking The News. Jay’s shows have remained in the best review lists of the Edinburgh Fringe, with Bahookie featured in the top 20 in 2023. In 2019 Jay was crowned Best Compere at the Scottish Comedy Awards and in 2022 she was nominated for Best Compere in the Chortle Comedy Awards.

• Tickets can be refunded no less than 24 hours before the show.

• Line-ups can be subject to change at short notice.

• This show is in two parts separated by one 15 minute interval.

• Don’t talk or heckle during the performances. This rule is NOT optional. It is very distracting for both the performer and other audience members. Some performers (usually the host) might talk to the audience, but otherwise please let the comedians do the talking. Heckling does not ‘help the show’. Think of it like cinema rules: laughter, cheers, applause are all great, but talking or yelling out is not. And another cinema rule…

• Please put your phone on silent. Photos are fine but please no video or flash photography.

• These shows are for people aged 18 and over. You may be asked to show ID if you do not look of age.

• Jesters Comedy Nights does not necessarily agree or disagree with the opinions and viewpoints expressed by the comedians. If you disagree or are offended by what you hear, you are free to express this by not laughing, by leaving, or by respectfully raising your objections with the act after the show or via social media. You may not interrupt an on-going performance.

• Exceptions to rules are at the discretion of Jesters Comedy Nights and Blackfriars. Audience members who repeatedly break these rules will be asked to leave.

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