Indie Light

Everyone loves to laugh. I’ve always enjoyed comedy, not just for its capacity to make people happy, but also for its ability to poke and prod at the social fabric, and tackle topics which otherwise might be seen as taboo. You see, we live in a world of contradictions and absurdities, where tragedy and comedy exist as dualities, that live within us all. There’s a quote by American playwright and novelist, Thornton Wilder, which always resonated with me, which sums this up, he said “The comic spirit is given to us in order that we may analyze, weigh, and clarify things in us which nettle us, or which we are outgrowing, or trying to reshape.” I think that quote succinctly sums up the substance of humour, how it’s not just an escape, it’s a vital part of the human condition, it’s alive and present in all things, and is as much a result of our personal darkness, as the answer to it.

Comedy as you may have gathered is incredibly important to me, and it’s on the topic of comedy that I’ve created this article, to aggregate and discuss, as well as spotlight and support my favourite comedians. Please enjoy the following Top 10 list, and please consider sharing and commenting with your favourite comedians as well.

1. Sarah Millican

Sarah Millican is refreshingly genuine and sweet, blending her confessional style delivery, with her Geordie accent to great impact. She is noted for covering a variety of topics including sex, relationships, issues facing women and body image. You may be familiar with her from her appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, You Have Been Watching, Would I Lie to You?, QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. You can check out some of her funny moments by clicking here and here.

2. Fern Brady

I knew when I decided to update this list that Fern Brady would appear on it. She’s honest, she’s direct, she’s great at one liners, and is an adept storyteller. In short she’s absolutely fantastic. She was the highlight of season 14 of Taskmaster. Also as a fellow neurodivergent, I appreciate her openness about autism, particularly masking and social cues. Check out some of her funny moments by clicking here and here. 

3. Aisling Bea

Aisling Bea is an Irish comedian noted for her lively and physical comedy, as well as her sharp wit and solid banter. She’s a frequent guest on a variety of British TV shows such as QI, Taskmaster, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, The Last Leg, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Would I Lie to You? and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. I’ve literally never been disappointed watching Aisling Bea, and you can check out some fun clips from Aisling by clicking here and here. 

4. Sophie Duker

Sophie Duker is an energetic and vibrant performer, who has a great rhythm to her routines. She’s super talented, and doesn’t shy away from topics like sex, race or being LGBT+. A suspiciously high volume of entries on this or the companion list for male comedians appeared on Taskmaster, and initially I was self conscious about that, but you discover new (to me) and talented comedians all the time and I shouldn’t be ashamed that a massive show, and vehicle for comedians introduced me to people like Sophie. Click here and here for some of her funny moments. 

5. Shaparak Khorsandi

She is an incredibly honest comedian, who draws upon her personal experience in her comedy, self-deprecating at times, but always forthright and observant. She’s exceptionally talented, and speaks candidly, whether she’s discussing her early years as a female comic or topics such as Iranian culture and British Politics. She’s made appearances on a variety of popular British TV shows, such as Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Have I Got News For You and QI. I really appreciate Shaparak as a comedian and I have been lucky enough to catch a couple of her performances at Edinburgh Fringe. It’s not just her comedy that makes me appreciate Shaparak though, it’s her advocacy as well. She’s openly bisexual, and is an outspoken advocate, she even made the character Nina, in her book ‘Nina is not Okay’ as a way to live out the experience she didn’t get to have at that age. You can check out some funny clips of Shaparak by clicking here and here. 

6. Lou Sanders

Another fabulous taskmaster contestant as well as a veteran of the British comedy television landscape, appearing in the likes of QI, Would I Lie to You?, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Russell Howard Hour, and 8 Out of 10 Cats. Lou’s comedy style is quirky and irreverent, she’s not afraid to laugh at things and it works really well. She’s such an engaging performer, and you can check out some funny moments by clicking here and here. 

7. Maisie Adam

Maisie Adam Is a natural performer, which makes sense considering she trained as an actress. She’s just such a vibrant personality, with her anecdotal storytelling and positive outlook, she’s both funny and likeable, which is a perfect combination for a stand-up comedian. You can check out some funny moments from Maisie by clicking here and here. 

8. Andi Osho

Andi Osho is a confident and engaging comedian, who tells a great story. Her delivery tends to be punchy and evenly paced, and she’s a master of anecdotal comedy. I think she first came to my attention after appearing on Mock the Week back in 2010, but has been a favourite of mine ever since. You should check out her books ‘Asking for a Friend’ and ‘Tough Crowd’ which are both fantastic. Click here and here to see some funny moments. 

9. Rachel Fairburn

Rachel Fairburn is an honest and forthright performer, her conversational and anecdotal style works really well and she is just so bright and endears herself to the audience during her routines. I strongly suggest you check out her podcast ‘All Killa No Filla’ which she hosts alongside Kiri Pritchard-McLean. You can click here and here to check out some funny moments from Rachel. 

10. Josie Long

Josie Long is unafraid to talk about politics, or activism, using her voice and her comedy as a vehicle for change and progress. She’s incredibly talented. She’s bright and engaging as a performer, plus much like Shaparak Khorsandi listed above, Josie received an ADHD diagnosis later in life. As someone who also has an adult diagnosis of ADHD and is still trying to develop the tools to manage professionally and personally, it’s important to have other people talking about it in mainstream media. Click here and here to see some funny moments from Josie.

So those were my Top 10 female comedians working in the industry today, and as I said above, feel free to comment with your favourites, as I’m always eager to expand my comedic horizons.