The headline acts at this year’s Chelmsford Comedy Showcase have just been announced in the Chelmsford Weekly News, and one of the names in particular has been met with excitement amongst the paper’s readership, including a member of staff at local marketing firm Sphinx Solutions. “I have been a fan of Phil Kay since I was a teenager. He’s a little too ‘out there’ for some people, but I always laugh until my sides ache. Just brilliant.”The Scottish comedian, renowned for his often insane antics on stage, has been a mainstay of the comedy circuit for over two decades but he hasn’t courted the world of TV comedy overmuch of late, save for appearances on QI and as guest stand-up on BBC3’s Russell Howard’s Good News. But if you’ve watched Jonathon Ross, Harry Hill or Reeves and Mortimer, chances are you will have heard a gag written by Phil Kay, and if you’re lucky enough to remember 90’s television (or should that be ‘unlucky’) then you might recall one of the cult comedy series Phil had; Phil Kay Feels for example (Channel 4), or The Montreal Festival of Fun on Channel 5.
“I’m not going to miss this year’s show,” said the source from Sphinx Solutions, a sentiment no doubt shared by many of Chelmsford’s residents. The Comedy Showcase has become a popular mainstay of the entertainment calendar. While a lot of comedy festivals aim to discover new talent and give fledgling comedians a chance at the comedy spotlight, the Chelmsford Comedy Showcase specialises in bringing in established acts and comedians who, while famous on the circuit, might not be familiar with television audiences. Recent shows have featured Irish comic Sean Hughes who, like Kay, has appeared on television but is better known for his live shows up and down the country.
Other names confirmed this year include Comedy Store favourite Jeff Innocent, Edinburgh Award winner Phil Nichol and comedy rapper Doc Brown. Promoter Ben Cormack told the Chelmsford Weekly News: “Each Comedy Showcase features a premium selection of the absolute best comics the circuit has to offer. They’re all here to give you a night of unbelievable hilarity that won’t soon be forgotten.”
“The line-up they’ve brought together this year might just be the best yet,” said the source at Sphinx Solutions as they reserved their ticket for the show. “I’ve seen Jeff Innocent at the Comedy Store in London and he’s worth the £10 ticket price alone, but when booked for the same gig as Phil Kay . . . I can hardly put into words how good this event is going to be!”
Source: http://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/news/9532054.Award_winning_comedian_to_headline_next_Comedy_Showcase/