Josiah Norris (born 1989) is a British alternative comedian, [1] comic actor and screenwriter. [2]
Norris started writing and performing comedy while studying English Literature at the University of East Anglia, alongside fellow comics and writers John Kearns, Jon Brittain and Pat Cahill. [3]
He has performed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2012, [4] with his first full hour show in 2013. [5] In 2017 he was included in the Guardian's Comedy Picks of the Fringe. [6] His 2019 show 'Joz Norris is Dead: Long Live Mr Fruit Salad' won the Comedians Choice Award [7] at the Fringe and transferred to the Soho Theatre, where its initial run was extended due to popular demand. [8] The show was also featured in the Guardian list of the Ten Best Jokes of the Fringe. [9] Norris has also performed at the Fringe in other comics' shows including Adam Larter's Return on Investment [10] in 2015 and, since 2015, he has also performed regularly with the collectives Comedians' Cinema Club [11] and The Alternative Comedy Memorial Society. [12]
He is a frequent collaborator with Weirdos Comedy Club. [13] He has also collaborated with Up In Arms Theatre Company. Other theatre projects have included his performance in the play 'Timmy' by Roxy Dunn at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018.
In 2015 Norris won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy at the Los Angeles Webseries Festival for his performance in the webseries The Backbenchers, and in 2017 his own webseries The Girl Whisperer saw him nominated for awards for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Writing. [14] His own short films include Robert Johnson & The Devil Man, a collaboration with director Matthew Highton which received positive notices in the comedy press. [15] [16] [17]
In 2016 he appeared alongside Bob Slayer on an episode of ITV's courtroom reality show Judge Rinder to resolve a dispute over an unpaid fee after a performance at a metal festival. [18] The episode was subsequently reviewed by the comedy website Chortle, noting that it was the first time they had ever had to review an episode of a reality TV show. [19]
In 2023 he was ranked among the top 13% of Taylor Swift listeners by Spotify. [20]
Glenn Wool is a Canadian stand-up comedian based in England. He has released six albums, including 2020's Viva Forever, produced by Dan Schlissel for Stand Up! Records.
Helen Keen is an English alternative comedian and writer born in Yorkshire, now living in London. She suffered with SM as a child but overcame this before becoming a comedian.
Chortle is a British comedy website launched in 2000 by Steve Bennett. The site is a major source of comedy news in the UK. It also reviews comedy shows nationwide, including extensively at the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and presents the Chortle Awards to honour the best stand-up comics working in the UK. In recent years, the site has also branched out into events promotion.
John Kearns is an English comedian and actor.
Bob Slayer is an Edinburgh Comedy Award winning comedian, musician and promoter. He has been part of a new economic model for venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe which has made the event fairer and more affordable for performers and audiences. Acts that have performed at his venues have won and been nominated for a number of prestigious awards.
John Michael David Robins is an English stand-up comedian and radio presenter.
Matthew Highton is a British comedian and film-maker from Saddleworth known for his surreal storytelling.
Weirdos Comedy Club is a UK based group of alternative comedians founded by Adam Larter in 2010.
Luisa Omielan is a British comedian based in Birmingham.
Sofie Hagen is a London-based Danish comedian, author, podcaster, fashion designer, and fat acceptance campaigner. She has toured with comedy shows, released a book and hosted and co-hosted a number of podcasts.
Richard Robert Steven Gadd is a Scottish writer, actor and comedian. He created and starred in the 2024 Netflix drama series Baby Reindeer, based on his one-man show and real-life experience.
Tom Parry, later credited as Tom Parry Wicks, is an English comedian, writer, podcaster and actor. He is one-third of the sketch/podcast group Pappy's.
Mat Ewins is an English actor, writer and stand-up comedian.
John-Luke Roberts is a British stand-up comedian, writer, actor and performer.
Catherine Bohart is an Irish stand-up comedian, writer and actor based in the United Kingdom.
Lucy Pearman is a BAFTA-nominated British comedian, actor and writer. She was nominated for Best Newcomer in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017 for her solo show. In July 2021 she wrote and starred in the BBC Three sitcom pilot Please Help, which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2022.
Sarah Keyworth is an English stand-up comedian who began a career in comedy in 2012, eventually going full-time in 2018 after being nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Keyworth has appeared on television comedy shows such as Roast Battle, The Now Show, The Dog Ate My Homework, Mock the Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Laura Lexx is an English comedian and writer originally from Somerset.
Ali Brice is a UK-based alternative comedian, character comedian and actor who regularly performs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has toured internationally as a stage actor and regularly features in high-profile television commercials.
Samuel George Campbell is an Australian stand-up comedian and actor. He won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award in 2018 and the main prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2022.