Firm behind one of UK's biggest comedy festivals folds

The company that ran one of the UK's biggest comedy festivals has ceased trading.

The directors of Big Difference Company - which ran Leicester Comedy Festival - announced "with great sadness" it had become insolvent and ceased trading. It comes weeks after it submitted a serious incident report to the Charity Commission over ongoing financial issues.

The directors of the festival, which started in 1994, cited "increasing costs, a difficult funding environment, and significant pressures within the live comedy sector" as factors in its decision.

Leicester City Council said it would work with promoters and venues "to ensure that an interim comedy festival programme can take place in 2027".

Harry Hill, Matt Lucas, Graham Norton and Sarah Millican are among the well-known names who have performed at the event over the past three decades.

Set up by students from De Montfort University in 1994, Leicester Comedy Festival became a registered company the following year before the firm changed its name to Big Difference in 2009.

"For 32 years, [the festival] has been an important part of the cultural and economic life of our region, showcasing comedy talent, attracting visitors, and supporting local businesses and venues," the directors said.

"We acknowledge that this news will be deeply disappointing to staff, performers, venues, promoters and supporters."

In May it emerged that hundreds of comedians had been unpaid following this year's festival, and in July an arts venue managed by the charity was repossessed due to the "non-payment of rent and insurance".

The directors said they "worked tirelessly to avoid this outcome", including looking at reducing costs and seeking new funding, but said it was "not possible to secure a sustainable future".

"We recognise the significant impact this will have on our employees, performers, venues, suppliers and other creditors, and we are sincerely sorry to all those affected," they said.

"Our immediate focus is to meet our legal obligations and engage constructively with stakeholders throughout the insolvency process.

"Looking ahead, we remain committed to working with stakeholders, including Leicester City Council, funders, venues and the wider community, to explore how a sustainable long-term future can be secured for this much-loved festival."

Geoff Rowe, who helped establish the festival but left in 2023, said he was "sad and angry" for performers, staff and the community.

"I know [Big Difference] has faced challenges, as everyone has in terms of business rates, national insurance and cost of living. But was it inevitable? I'd like to think it wasn't.

"Because there are loads of festivals that are weathering the storm and there are loads of comedy promoters and clubs that have got through it," he said.

"I see Big Difference as being - or were - the guardians of Leicester Comedy Festival but I think there is the potential for someone else to take on that guardianship.

"So maybe there is a bit of optimism there.

"But then I think about the hundreds of people who are owed a significant amount of money from the festival in 2026 and I feel sad and angry all over again."

A statement issued on behalf of former Leicester Comedy Festival staff said they were "stunned and heartbroken" by the development.

"We are so sad. For working comedians, for venues, for audiences, but mostly for Leicester," they said.

"It is our hope of all hopes that Leicester Comedy Festival and The UK Kids' Comedy Festival can live on, with a model that works for all.

"We don't know what that looks like and we know that the future is as uncertain as it could be right now.

"But, we know that there is far too much appetite and history for comedy in Leicester for this to be it."

Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the council would ensure a comedy festival continued to take place.

"We're very sorry that the Big Difference Company has gone into liquidation, and we understand that this is a difficult time for its staff and all of those affected," he said.

"The Leicester Comedy Festival has been a hugely important part of Leicester's cultural calendar, bringing thousands of visitors to the city every year, and with them a big boost to our economy.

"While of course we can't pick up the debts of a registered charity, we do want to ensure the festival goes ahead next year.

"We will therefore be working with local promoters, venues, and other stakeholders, and drawing upon the expertise of our own festivals and De Montfort Hall teams, to ensure that an interim comedy festival programme can take place in 2027, while we work to secure a sustainable operation for the long-term."

The most recent edition of the festival was held in February and featured more than 500 acts across multiple venues.

However, it then emerged hundreds of performers had not been paid for their work.

They included comedian Benjamin Alborough, who told the BBC he was owed almost £2,000.

Organisers said in May the delay was due to cashflow problems but they were aiming to honour the payments as quickly as possible.

Michael Day, an official from performing arts union Equity, said: "Despite being widely anticipated, it's a huge blow to see Leicester Comedy Festival file for insolvency.

"It's terrible news and leaves many performers unpaid from this year's festival.

"At Equity, we've been supporting many comedians who were left unpaid and we have secured payment for several of them.

"However, getting money owed to comedians will become far more difficult under an insolvency."

The Live Comedy Association - set up to support people working in grassroots live comedy - says it has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to support those affected by non-payments.

It added the initial target was £30,000, with all funds raised going directly towards assisting individuals, promoters, venues and staff who were owed money.

The association's director Jessica Toomey said: "We are incredibly sad about the dreadful impact this will have on many of our members and the wider live comedy sector across the UK."

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