Catch live comedy in Liverpool in 2025
We all know Liverpool likes a good laugh – and the city has a reputation as the birthplace of some of the biggest names in the business stretching back more than a century.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that comedians from across the country – and beyond – make sure they factor a date or two in the city when they’re taking their live shows on tour.
Along with bespoke comedy hot spots like Laughterhouse and Hot Water Comedy Club, comedians also perform at mainstream locations like the Empire Theatre, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Playhouse and M&S Bank Arena.
And there’s even more comedy to be found outside the city’s boundaries too.
The next 12 months are no exception, and comedy fans are in for a treat with a host of names heading for Liverpool with their latest live stand-up shows.
From storytellers to surrealists, and Liverpool-born stars to TV favourites to up-and-coming funny men and women, there’s the proverbial something for everyone.
Here’s a taste of who you can catch and where in 2025.
Liverpool Empire
Taskmaster, The Inbetweeners and Cuckoo star Greg Davies kickstarts the Empire’s comedy dates for 2025 in style on January 29 starting no fewer than four (already) sold out performances for his show Full Fat Legend at the Lime Street theatre.
Hot on his heels comes Katherine Ryan who arrives with her live stand-up tour Battleaxe on February 2.
Star of UKTV’s popular series Parental Guidance as well as Comedy Central’s upcoming Out of Order with Rosie Jones and Judi Love, Ryan is also the creator and star of Netflix’s hit The Duchess as well as Missus on Sky / Now TV. She also hosted Backstage with Katherine Ryan for Amazon Prime and starred in Sky’s Romantic Getaway with Romesh Ranganathan.
Meanwhile Farnworth funnyman Paddy McGuinness is Nearly There… on February 16.
And Dara O Briain swings by on November 2 with Re: Creation. Expect plenty of stories and not a little madness from the Irish favourite.
More details on all the shows and tickets HERE
Liverpool Playhouse
In his time Mark Thomas has won awards, forced a politician to resign, changed laws on tax and protest, become Guinness Book of Records world record holder for number of protests in 24 hours, taken the police to court three times and won, walked the length of the Israeli Wall in the West Bank and generally mucked about trying to have fun and p*** off the right people.Gaffa Tapes, coming to the Liverpool Playhouse on January 23, is more of the same.
Nina Conti and her sidekick Monkey return to Williamson Square on January 25.
The virtuoso ventriloquist, BAFTA nominee and British Comedy Award winner presents Whose Face is it Anyway? an unscripted new show that delves deep into who we are, ‘hijacking faces to spark a bold, hysterical reality warp’.
Then on February 11, another Playhouse favourite returns. John Shuttleworth arrives complete with more hilarious stories and songs performed on his trusty Yamaha organ (with built-in auto accompaniment!) In Raise the Oof, Shuttleworth celebrates 40 years in showbiz.
There’s No Kissing in the Bingo Hall when Lou Sanders takes to the stage on March 1 in a show about being human.
Deirdre O’Kane is Kaning It on March 8, while Richard Herring asks Can I Have my Ball Back? on April 17.
Comedian, presenter and actor Ellie Taylor drops by with her new stand-up show Palavering! on May 10.
Covering everything from how to keep the spark alive in marriage (hint: it involves pressure washers), her new life with almost double the amount of ratbags (children) not to mention her stint as nation’s sweetheart on Strictly (very much her own words), it’s a show guaranteed to put a spring in your step and a laugh in your mouth which is almost certainly, not a phrase.
Jenny Éclair brings Jokes, Jokes, Jokes with her on June 7 in her live memoir show.
And confessional multi-award-winning confessional comedian Suzi Ruffell arrives on September 13 with The Juggle.
It’s hard to be good all the time. A good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend, a good person. To be ambitious but not ruthless; a success but not a sell-out. A gentle parent but not a pushover. To be smashing life and make it look easy. Ruffell is exhausted and she hasn't even started. This is a stand-up show AND a support group.
Then on November 21, Liverpool’s Sam Avery brings a Thunderstorm to Williamson Square.
Expect a whirlwind journey through the chaos of the modern world - from parenting disasters to culture wars, conspiracy theories to political morons.
More details and tickets HERE
Philharmonic Hall
Deadpan delight Milton Jones heads for the Philharmonic Hall on January 19 with his latest live touring show Ha!milton. But don’t worry, there won’t be any singing, just plenty of laughter. Support comes from Tom Houghton.
Local hero Chris McCausland takes time out from his stellar Strictly triumph on January 31 and February 1, arriving at the hall with Yonks! - a masterclass in comedy that’s been ‘yonks’ in the making. But if you haven’t already got a ticket for one of the three shows, prepare to be disappointed because he’s a popular man.
It’s Stewart Lee v The Man-Wulf on May 6-7 when Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity. As you do.
Harry Hill brings New Bits and Greatest Hits to Hope Street on June 8. Enjoy as he delves into his back catalogue using his patented Old Bit Randomiser for old favourites like Interspecies Tennis, The time I went up in the Space Shuttle and When Nan got her hair caught in the knitting.
The Horne Section’s Hit Show follows hard on his heels on June 13, while Rob Beckett arrives with his tour Giraffe for two nights on September 5-6.
Elis James and Jon Robins take their hit podcast That Feels Significant on the road as a live show, appearing in Liverpool on September 24. And Scott Bennett is already sold out in the Music Room on September 27 with Stuff.
Sophie McCartney has One Foot in the Rave on October 9. Recently kicked out of club 18 -30, a new decade now beckons, and McCartney doesn’t believe it. Tackling her perimenopausal panic with denial, delirium, and a shot of tequila - what does life look like when you’re too old to be young, but too young to be old?
It’s a Small World for Jack Dee on October 19, while on November 2 Russell Kane is Hyperactive.
Meanwhile Sara Pascoe brings her live tour I Am a Strange Gloop to the Phil on November 13.
And Josh Widdicombe takes to the stage on November 30.
More details and tickets HERE
Royal Court Studio
He’s supported fellow funny men and women including Russell Howard, Troy Hawke and Michael McIntyre and has been voted the Comic’s Comic Best Act at the UK Comedy Awards.
Now Andrew Bird is heading for the Royal Court Studio to headline his own show. A Ticklish Mind, at the venue on February 15, was inspired by asking his nine-year-old are you ticklish? ‘Only in my mind’ was the reply.
Co-host of international smash hit podcast All Killa No Filla and as seen on Live at the Apollo, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, Richard Osman’s House of Games and Russell Howard Hour Life Lesson, see Rachel Fairburn in the flesh when she brings Side-Eye to the Court on February 22.
Then on March 1 there is a double bill on one night courtesy of cult multi-award-winning musical-comedians Jonny & The Baptists. First up is an hour of songs and stories about why they are (or aren’t) happy; followed by a work-in-progress of their next show.
More details and tickets HERE
M&S Bank Arena
Peter Kay continues his record-breaking live tour with three dates at the arena in 2025 – the first on September 20, and a second visit on November 20 and 21.
Meanwhile Liverpool comedy superstar John Bishop is taking to the road in 2025 to mark 25 years of stand-up - and he’s bringing his live show to the M&S Bank Arena for two nights on October 24 and 25. Tickets for ’25’ are, you’ve guessed it, £25 although that doesn’t include booking fees.
And Jimmy Carr is also back on tour. He brings his new show Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny to the waterfront on December 11.
More details and tickets HERE
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