Francesca Martinez's top ten stand-up comedians

‘An all-round great performer who has so much to say. Biting satire and great songs, I love watching him live. His song “Thank You God” is comedy gold.’

‘Chris challenges views on subjects which can be tricky to discuss. I love his ability to talk about real issues while being hilarious and thought provoking. Comedy with substance.’

‘I saw Dov in LA for 20 minutes and he took my breath away. Raw, honest and original, he spoke from his gut about how he saw the world around him, and was a force of nature on stage.’

‘As a comedian, it can take years to find your voice. Stewart is a great example of someone who has had the confidence and talent to develop a style that is unique to him. A brilliant act who says exactly what he wants, how he wants.’

‘Everyone loves him. Me included. A genius who is in his element on stage. Just amazing on so many levels.’

‘Jeremy has such a laid-back style and makes stand-up look easy. One of the quickest brains out there, he combines searing wit with social commentary. A true comedy legend.’

‘It’s not easy to make serious points while being funny, but Mark has been doing so for years. His passion, eloquence and comedic ability always blow me away and I am a huge fan.’

‘A master of solo shows, Richard always produces thoughtful and original pieces. His “Christ on a Bike” show was a classic and opened my eyes, as a new comic, to the possibility that comedy could be hilarious and, at the same time, a work of art.’

‘A real joy to watch and a prolific writer, Markus makes me laugh every time. One of the most hard-working comics around, his latest solo show was funny, beautiful and moving. Deserves to be a household name.’

‘Naturally pant-wettingly funny, warm, and a mesmerising performer, I’m lucky enough to have Jen support me on tour. She has a real flair for storytelling, effortlessly embodying characters and assuming pitch-perfect accents, and is destined to be hugely successful.’