UTV'S SECRETS OF THE COMEDY CIRCUIT LANDS ON ITVX

First commissioned and aired by UTV in late 2022, the episodes were filmed in front of a live audience in the Belfast Empire Music Hall during their ‘Empire Laughs Back Comedy Club’ nights, now celebrating 30 years.

The series showcases the vibrant Northern Ireland comedy scene, with the best local talent and other stand-up artists from further afield, all of which brings giggles and belly laughs as they share their unique observations.

Comedy clubs are seen as a rite of passage for comedians from all over the UK and Ireland. Stars such as Kevin Bridges, Romesh Ranganathan and Sarah Millican along with famous locals Paddy Kielty, Colin Murphy and Paddy Raff have cut their teeth at the Empire Laughs Back Comedy Club.

The four episodes capture highlights of a typical ‘comedy club’ night but also delve into the lives of the comedians behind the scenes. Each evening is hosted by a well-known face who joins the rest of the cast off stage to chat about what it’s like trying to survive the circuit!

In the first episode Belfast comedian Paddy McDonnell is our MC. He’s joined by local actress and comedian Diona Doherty, Kildare native Emman Idama, and Belfast’s Paddy Raff. In following episodes the eclectic mix continues with Colin Murphy and Andrew Ryan hosting and introducing acts from England, Wales and Scotland, as well as local talent.

UTV’s Programmes Editor Tony Curry said, “The series went down really well with local audiences and we’re delighted it’s now available to watch here on demand, but is also reaching a much wider audience across the UK”.

Simon Clemison, Head of News and Programmes at UTV said, “A comedy commission was a new venture for us but with so many great acts on the scene in Belfast we knew we were onto a winner. The streaming service hit more than one billion streams last week, with more new shows for free than anywhere else.”

‘Secrets of the Comedy Circuit’ is produced for UTV by Belfast-based Moondog Productions.