Talent

Ian Smith

About Ian

Ian Smith is a multi-award winning comedian, actor and writer as seen on Comedy Central Live - and heard on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, The Now Show and his own comedy-documentary Girl Stuck in Basketball Hoop. He is the co-host of the Guardian-recommended Northern News podcast, alongside Amy Gledhill.

Ian’s six Edinburgh Fringe shows have received critical acclaim, an Amused Moose Comedy Award, ThreeWeeks Editors’ Award and transfers at Soho Theatre and international festivals. In 2015 he was also part of the hugely successful, multi-award winning, Richard Gadd – Waiting for Gaddot.

He has performed at New Zealand Comedy Festival twice, inlcuding a set at the prestigious New Zealand Comedy Gala (TVNZ). This year Ian was selected as part of Best of the Edinburgh Fest at Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Ian is also a talented actor – starting off as a lead in BBC2 sitcom Popatron. He has gone on to star alongside Katherine Parkinson in Sky comedy Officially Special and have a leading role in BBC1 drama, The Ark– as well as a number of supporting roles including The Emily Atack Show, Siblings, Pls Like and BBC drama The Syndicate.

Ian was a regular writer on The News Quiz, The Now Show and Newsjack (BBC Radio 4), and writes for various other comedians (including for Mock the Week). In 2022 he directed Amy Gledhill's Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominated show, The Girl Before The Girl You Marry. He’s also written two of his own web series – Hope You Come Up Here and the Chortle Award nominated 100 Reasons to Hate…

He will be performing his new solo show Crushing at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe at Monkey Barrel.

“One of the best you will see at the festival” ★★★★★ The Mirror

“A riot of sprightly silliness” ★★★★ Chortle

“An effortlessly brilliant stand-up” ★★★★ The Scotsman

“You’d do well to catch him now before his inevitable jump to the big time” The Telegraph

Credits