Sketch show star set to appear at Danny’s Comedy Club

Described as a comedy magician and general goofbag, El Baldiniho hits Danny’s Comedy Club with his latest set of under-rehearsed magic japes.

Prepare to be amazed by his lack of magical prowess, gaze in wonder as he stops half way through tricks to read the instructions and marvel at his inability to remember a simple script. EL Baldiniho is the Tommy Cooper-esque comic creation of actor Jason Mannion, and has also featured in Channel Four’s The Mad Bad Ad Show and legendary blue-comedian Roy Chubby Brown’s Who Ate All The Pies?

Owner and producer of Danny’s Comedy Club, Daniel Kington, explained: “Getting El Baldiniho is certainly something I’m very pleased about.

“I’ve been after him to come and perform for us in Haywards Heath as his particular brand of character-driven humour is what goes down best with audiences everywhere.”

And with the Club set to open its second venue at the Arora Hotel in Crawley on September 5, a large pool of tried and tested talent should be a recipe for creative and commercial success in a notoriously difficult and challenging genre.

Daniel said: “Having a diverse stable of good comedians is key to long term sustainability and an important step in bringing good quality comedy to audiences further afield, who want and deserve a good night’s entertainment.”

Coincidentaly, El Baldiniho is not the only protégé of Liverpool comic John Bishop appearing on the same line-up this month.

Steve Foster, from Billingshurst, has been on the comedy circuit for four years now and has twice toured with his very own solo show with a third, Excess Gaggage, that he will be touring later this year.

He won the Sussex Search For A Star in 2011 and was also a finalist on Sky1’s Don’t Stop Me Now in 2012. His other TV appearances include John Bishop’s Only Joking.

Joy Carter is a graduate of the National Youth Theatre, and makes a welcome return to Danny’s Comedy Club after fourteen months. This hugely talented and versatile comedian, actress, singer and musician has appeared regularly on TV, has her own show Get Carter playing live comedy gigs to audiences of more than a thousand and is also a national personality as a campaigner for Adoption.

A relative newcomer to the comedy circuit, Mass Nokhas (pronounced “no cash”) has already penetrated several of the nation’s top comedy venues. He has made the finals of every gong show at London’s Comedy Store and numerous other competitions. He has already been spotted by the industry and has performed alongside top comedy stars Josh Widdicombe, Imran Yusuf, Mark Dolan and Joel Dommett.

According to Mass, in his own words: “I’m young and enthusiastic comic tell stories based on real life event that happened to me just seat back and relax and enjoy.”

Although musical comedian Hilary Fox is apparently a newcomer to the comedy circuit, you wouldn’t think it. She has the confidence and sharp writing of a veteran act. Charming and somewhat wild, her self-deprecating risqué songs consistently has her audience in stitches.

Described as “Victoria Wood meets Jo Brand, but with a guitar” Hilary Fox is immensely entertaining and fun to watch, from beginning to end. Based in the South of England, she has performed at venues including Watford Palace Theatre, The Princes Hall Theatre, Aldershot and The Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport. And already she has netted a clutch of prestigious comedy awards: Funny Women Semi Finalist (2014- ongoing); You Must Be Joking Finalist (2014- ongoing); Reading Comedy Festival New Act of the Year Finalist (2013) and a Britain Does Variety Finalist (2013).

Another regular of the Edinburgh Fringe, Nick Hall is always in demand right across the comedy circuit and has done over four hundred gigs around the UK, reaching the semi-finals of last year’s So You Think You’re Funny competition in Brighton. He returns to Edinburgh this year with his solo show, Nick Hall: Helmet. Audiences will have seen Nick performing on BBC2, BBC3, and BBC Radio 4. He is the star of London’s cult movie club Hot Tub Cinema and hit football show Comedy Commentary.

Much in demand, Rosie Diamantopoulo has performed at many prestigious venues alongside top names such as Reginald D Hunter. Rosie is an ex-Steiner school pupil, but her life hasn’t quite planned out the way she or her teachers envisaged. Recounting her stumbles through adult life with a cutting and hilarious pithiness, Rosie’s resigned surmise of her place in this odd world is always guaranteed to bring her a flock of new fans.

Ian Lane won both the Comedy Virgins Max Turner Prize and the Laughing Horse Brighton Fringe New Act competiton in 2013. He is a performer on a mission to capitalise on this potent combination of wit and criteria-meeting affability with a set that draws upon absurdist autobiography, obtuse one-liners and Post-It note poems, all delivered with “a general disdain for modern living”. Ian was also shortlisted for the BBC Radio New Comedy Award 2013. Elsewhere, he has appeared on bills supporting Phill Jupitus, Andrew O’Neill and Rich Fulcher, and in 2013 he made his Edinburgh debut as part of The Men Who Stare At Jokes.

Also performing is Alex Bennett, a veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe and recent finalist at the Chortle and the BBC New Comedy awards.

Doors open at 7.30pm with curtain up at 8.30pm. The Club features comfortable, cabaret-style seating, a reasonably priced bar, good food and ample free parking onsite. Admission is £7 on the door with tickets also available in advance at the Birch Hotel reception.

Anyone interested in appearing at Danny’s Comedy Club should email [email protected].

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