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Just For Laughs: all-star comedy festival is coming to the O2
In what promises to be a live comedy highlight of the year, four-day festival Just For Laughs is transforming the O2 Arena and its neighbouring venues into a haven of laughter, a utopia of entertainment and a who’s who of celebrity faces. Running from March 2 – 5, it’s bringing the biggest names from the biggest TV comedy shows to Greenwich for a series of oneoff, mash-up gigs, writes Holly O’Mahony…
Television royalty including Ryan Reynolds, Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton are among those leading sets as part of the festival. Also confirmed are comedy circuit favourites Adam Buxton, Katherine Ryan, Joe Lycett, Phil Wang and Ed Gamble. Rising stars are also on the roster, with Nish Kumar, Aisling Bea and Suzi Ruffell set to perform.
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Founded in 1983, the Just for Laughs Group has launched the careers of numerous household names including Trevor Noah, Rowan Atkinson, Amy Schumer and Jimmy Carr. While the group’s televised output has an audience in over 150 countries, the upcoming 40th anniversary show at the O2 in Greenwich marks its first ever London edition.
While audiences will have to file into the main 20,000-capacity O2 Arena to see the biggest names on the festival line-up, the shows in the venue’s smaller space, Indigo at the O2, are almost as starry, and the festival is spilling out into nearby All Bar One, O2 Blueroom and the Fortuna Spiegeltent, too.
A thorough browse of the billing suggests pretty much anyone who’s anyone in comedy is making an appearance at Just For Laughs, but here are some highlights we’re especially excited for…
WHAT: The Graham Norton Variety Show
WHEN: Friday March 3, 8pm
National treasure Graham Norton is swapping his BBC Television Centre studio for the O2 Arena this Friday. There will be no dud performances in this variety show. Joining Graham is a glittering line-up of top comedic talent, including: Royal Television Society Award winner Joe Lycett; TV favourite Phil Wang – whose own show Philly Philly Wang Wang proved a hit on Netflix; and queen of deadpan Katherine Ryan, who TV audiences might know from her drama series The Duchess. The night also promises musical interludes from Sam Ryder, Bianca Del Rio, Jayde Adams and Danny Beard.
WHAT: Ryan Reynolds “Maximum Effort”, moderated by Rob Delaney
WHEN: Saturday March 4, 8:30pm Hollywood golden boy Ryan Reynolds will be reflecting back on a career that’s catapulted him from cosy sitcom territory into the multiverse, playing lead roles in Two Guys and a Girl and the Deadpool movies. Interviewing Ryan about his impressive accolades is comedian, actor and writer Rob Delaney (Catastrophe).
WHAT: Comic Relief – The Truth & Everything Except The Truth, hosted by Richard Curtis
WHEN: Sunday March 5, 4pm
In smaller, neighbouring venue Indigo at the O2, audiences can hear from the founding father of the modern rom-com Richard Curtis, whose blockbuster movies include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Love Actually. He’s not really here to talk about those, though; Richard is also the proud co-founder of Red Nose Day, and here he’s hosting Comic Relief stars for an afternoon of “comedy, memories and mishaps”. Joining Richard is comedian and chat show host Jonathan Ross.
Meanwhile, in the O2 Blueroom at 6pm, Comic Relief is hosting Sue Perkins and fellow LGBTQ+ comedians for a show that promises to raise awareness about the cost-ofliving crisis, mental health problems and the LGBTQ+ experience.
Richard Curtis said: “At Comic Relief, we believe in the power of comedy and entertainment to drive positive change across the world. That’s why I’m delighted to be hosting this special show at the very first Just For Laughs Festival in London, with AEG and The O2. I am incredibly excited about sharing the stage with my good friend and Comic Relief supporter Jonathan Ross and can’t wait to see Sue Perkins, Rosie Jones and Michelle de Swarte take to the stage with Proud Every Day. Comic Relief has raised more than £1.5billion in the last 35 years and now more than ever we are passionate about providing support to those who need it most. This will be a truly special event, one for all but especially those die-hard comedy fans.”
Bruce Hills, President of Just For Laughs, said: “We are honoured to be partnering with Comic Relief as part of our inaugural Just For Laughs LONDON festival and to be helping raise donations for Red Nose Day. We are really hoping that our collaboration with Comic Relief will be one that will continue to grow alongside our festival for many years to come.” www.theo2.co.uk/events/ detail/jfl-london-indigo
Just for Laughs is showing at the O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX. March 2 - 5, doors at 3:30pm.
Admission: £29.90+.
