Bletchfest’s Comedy Night!
This year Bletchfest’s Comedy Night is just a little later than the April Fools Day event of the previous 2 years but still within the ‘fools month’ on Saturday 27th April. The quality of the line up though is stronger than ever.
Opening the show we have Fiona Allen, a comedian and actress most known for her work on Channel 4's Smack the Pony but she has also appeared in many other sketch shows, including We Know Where You Live, Goodness Gracious Me, The All Star Comedy Show and alongside Paul Whitehouse in the sitcom ‘Happiness’. As an accomplished actress Fiona has appeared in many TV dramas such as EastEnders, Dalziel & Pascoe and Coronation Street. In 2023 she performed her debut stand up show, On The Run, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Our compere for the evening, Essex based Comedian & Radio Presenter Ross McGrane has been performing Stand-up Comedy for over 10 years. As well as playing regularly in some of the UK's most prestigious venues, he's also been the official Tour Support for industry heavyweights such as Russell Kane, Jayde Adams & Geoff Norcott.
He blends his razor sharp Essex Boy wit with relatable observations about growing up on a Council Estate in Southend, starting a family and navigating through life as a peasant in a rich person's world. A very accomplished MC, he seamlessly moves from crowd work to material as if he's talking to you at the bar. With over 20 years experience in almost all aspects of the comedy industry, Ross' experience, passion and knowledge has quickly earned him spots regularly hosting comedy nights around the country.
Our third act is Omar Badawy. Originally from Egypt, Omar started stand up in 2019 and, in his first year, went on to win the prestigious 'So You Think You're Funny' award at the Edinburgh Fringe. He talks about his encounters with strange school friends, football fans and EDL-badge-wearing bouncers, providing unique insight from a childhood moving from Egypt to Wales to Cambridge.
We’re thrilled to have been able to book Hal Cruttenden as our headline act. Hal is one of the top touring stand up comedians working in the UK and Ireland today, as well as being a highly accomplished writer, presenter and actor.
Instantly recognisable he has made several appearances on top TV shows including ‘Live at the Apollo’, ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘The Royal Variety Performance’, ‘Would I Lie To You’, ‘The One Show’, ‘The Great British Bake Off’, and many others. He’s toured extensively in the UK and Ireland over the last 10 years, and has also taken shows to the Montreal, Melbourne, and New Zealand comedy festivals and he’s recorded three very successful stand up specials on DVD -‘Tough Luvvie’, ‘Straight Outta Cruttenden’ and ‘Chubster’
The Times says “He reminds me why I love stand up” while the Daily Mirror promises “You’ll laugh a lot!”. Book tickets for the show and you’ll see just how right they are!
Doors open at Bletchingley Village Hall at 7pm on Saturday 27th April with the comedy starting at 8pm. A licensed bar will offer a variety of drinks operating when the doors open and during a short intermission. Tickets are just £15 and our previous comedy nights both sold out so book early to secure your place.