The UK's Best Stand Up Comedians

Where would we be without comedians? A bit sadder? A bit less tolerant of those annoying people? Or pretty much exactly the same...

Wherever we'd be, I'm pretty glad they do exist... My stand-up comedy collection has provided many LOLs and even the odd ROFL on a rainy day and it just doesn't feel right keeping them to myself. Here I have come up with my top 5 list of the UK's best comedians (with a cheeky extra US one for good luck)

1) Michael McIntyre

Michael McIntyre can raise the odd belly laugh just by saying 'Hello'. He quickly became one of Britain’s best loved comedians almost as soon as he sashayed onto the comedy scene with his infectious laugh and camp mannerisms.

“My wife and I both made a list of 5 people we could sleep with…she read hers out and there were no surprises…1 George Clooney…2 Brad Pitt etc…I thought ‘I’ve got the better deal here’…1 Your sister…”

Check out Michael McIntyre on YouTube. For the latest news, including a story about him being guest judge on Britain's Got Talent have a look here at Heatworld.

2) John Bishop

Scouser John Bishop has been doing stand-up comedy since 2000, but always seems to keep his feet on the ground. Humble and massively self-deprecating he's definitely not the kind of guy you'd expect to have won countless comedy awards. He also has a great joke about a kid with a big shoe:

“[In school] There was always a kid with a lazy eye and there was always a kid with a big shoe. What happened to the kid with the big shoe? Cause I’ve never seen an adult with a big shoe, and now there are no kids with big shoes. Now if you go to a school you’ll never see a kid with a big shoe.”

Here he is in action on YouTube. You can also visit his official website for tour dates etc. Tickets can also be bought at Aloud.com

3) Rhod Gilbert

“A spa hotel? It’s like a normal hotel, only in reception there’s a picture of a pebble.”

Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert has won many awards for being able to make people laugh. He also appears on Mock the Week and hosts his own tv show Ask Rhod Gilbert where his quips and comments are always good for a laugh.

“In the Bible, God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. That's a pretty good summer for us in Wales. That's a hosepipe ban waiting to happen. I was eight before I realised you could take a cagoule off.”

Here he is on YouTube talking about candles, and a funny rant at FHM.com

4) Tim Minchin

The British born, Australian comedian has mixed comedy with music, once mentioning "I'm a good musician for a comedian and a good comedian for a musician but if I had to do any of them in isolation I dunno." Tim Minchin also has a lovely song about his appreciation for his wife:

“If I didn’t have you to hold me tight, if I didn’t have you to lie with at night, if I didn’t have you to share my side and to kiss me and dry my tears when I cry, well I really think that I would… have somebody else. If I didn’t have you someone else would do. Your love is one in a million you couldn’t buy it at any price, but of the 9.999 hundred thousand other possible loves statistically some of them would be equally nice…or maybe not as nice but smarter than you, or dumber but better at sport or tracing I’m just saying I think I would probably have somebody else.”

And here it is on YouTube.

Tickets can also be bought at Aloud.com

5) Bill Bailey

“It’s the joggers I don’t trust…because they’re always the ones that find the bodies aren’t they.”

Bill Bailey is probably one of the best known comedians out there, with his music and comedy performances involving sound effects, jingles and full on orchestrated works. His long-standing career began in 1989, and he still manages to come up with new, fresh material to keep us chuckling.

Check him out on YouTube, and find out some extra info at Chortle.

...?)And for a cheeky extra, US comedian Bo Burnham. I know he doesn't fit into the UK title, but he's basically amazing...

Bo Burnham

Bo Burnham writes satirical, politically incorrect songs which include lines such as: “If I had a dime for every time a homeless guy asked me for change… I’d still say no.”

The American comedian, singer-songwriter, musician and internet phenomenon owes his fame and fortune to YouTube, even penning a song in homage. Bo Burnham's antics on webcam soon turned into performing in front of thousands of people at various gigs and shows. His content is mildly offensive, but he portrays it in such a light-hearted way that you can't help but love it. As I previously said, he is basically amazing.

Here is 'Rant' on YouTube.

If you still want more comedy... Check out some awesome comedy blogs from all over the web!