‍The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has today published further questions it has sent to the Trustees of Big Difference Company, the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival. These questions have been sent following consultation with members and other creditors of the charity. They are published in advance of the creditors meeting taking place on 3rd September.

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has today announced it has received backing from over 60 MPs who have supported the call for government to recognise grassroots live comedy within creative industries and cultural policy alongside grassroots live music. 

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has been named a recipient of the James Corden/Rhod Gilbert ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize 2026

The initial creditors report for Leicester Comedy Festival producers Big Difference Company shows the total debt is in excess of £215,000.  Over 100 people are listed as being owed money but the Live Comedy Association (LCA) has received information from members that suggests these figures might be conservative estimates.  This information has come to light following the LCA asking trustees of the registered charity a series of questions on behalf of its members.

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has sent a list of questions to the trustees of Leicester Comedy Festival promoters Big Difference Company.  The questions were compiled at an online meeting held on Sunday with people affected by the non payment of ticket money.  The questions can be seen below and the responses will be made public once a reply has been received.  The questions have been sent to the Chair of the Trustees Chris Traill (pictured) and other members of the board.

The LCA has become the first organisation from the live comedy sector to become a member of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), marking a significant step towards improving standards and safeguarding across the UK comedy industry.

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has responded to the news that Leicester Comedy Festival producers Big Difference Company (registered charity) has ceased trading.  The news broke earlier this morning when the trustees of the charity issued a statement saying they had become insolvent and were closing down.

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has today launched a fundraising campaign to support acts, promoters and other people affected by the non payment of money from Big Difference Company, the producers of Leicester Comedy Festival.

The Directors of the Live Comedy Association have written an open letter to the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, asking for support for the live comedy sector.

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has today announced the funding which has been made available to comedians and promoters affected by the non-payment of ticket money from Leicester Comedy Festival producers Big Difference Company.

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has launched an initial, emergency hardship pot for comedians and promoters affected by the nonpayment of ticket income at Leicester Comedy Festival 2026. 

Comedians, and fans of comedy, are being encouraged to contact their MPs to gain support for the grassroots live comedy sector across the UK, similar the support already offered to grassroots live music. 

The Stand Up And Give Fund, set up by the Live Comedy Association to support those working in the UK grassroots live comedy sector, has raised over £30,000 thanks to donations from live comedy promoters and individuals.

The first live comedy venue has confirmed they are in receipt of the business rates support package announced by the government in January. 

Live Comedy Day (LCD), the brand new national day of celebration for the UK’s live comedy sector, has today announced a further wave of high-profile Comedy Ambassadors ahead of its inaugural event on 1st April 2026.

Following the recent launch of both the UK Live Comedy Sector report and Live Comedy Day, the Live Comedy Association (LCA) are delighted to have been invited to a roundtable meeting with Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts Ian Murray MP to discuss the comedy sector. 

The Live Comedy Association (LCA), in partnership with the Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) and British Comedy Guide (BCG), has released the findings of the UK Live Comedy Sector Survey 2025. 

The Live Comedy Association (LCA) has received confirmation that the government intends to include permanent live comedy venues in the business rates support package announced yesterday. 

The state of live comedy will be the focus of the opening session of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s work aimed at spotlighting previously unheard issues and challenges.

Live Comedy Association, Centre for Comedy Studies Research & British Comedy Guide survey highlights estimated over £1 billion annual turnover of live comedy sector and renews call for UK Government recognition for live comedy