The Big Fab Comedy Show with Larry Dean @ Galashiels Volunteer Hall

Overview

A rip-roaring night of live stand-up comedy starring the TV names you know and love alongside some of the hottest up-and-coming talent from across Scotland and the UK. Presented by Scotland’s original home of live comedy, Gilded Balloon.

 BBC Breaking the News star Jay Lafferty will host the show alongside Stephen Buchanan (Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club), Lauren Pattison (BBC’s Stand Up for Live Comedy, Comedy Central), Sam Lake (Dave’s Comedy Guide to Life) and topping off the show, following appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, House of Games and many more, the unstoppable Larry Dean!

*Line-up is subject to change in exceptional circumstances. In the event of a line-up alteration, a performer of similar calibre will be added. Refunds will not be offered.

Performer Bios:

Larry Dean
Larry Dean is an award-winning comedian, writer and actor. Larry has thrice been nominated for the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his sellout, critically acclaimed solo stand up shows. His stand up special Fandan, produced by 800 Pound Gorilla Media, was released this year and aired on Channel 4.

He has performed multiple tours across the UK and Ireland and has built a strong international fanbase with regular appearances at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, New Zealand Comedy Festival, Perth Fringeworld and Just For Laughs in Montreal. This year he will make his New York touring debut and 2024 will see him embark on his biggest tour to date.

Larry’s broadcasting career goes from strength to strength, with credits including: two appearances on Live at the Apollo (once as host), Mock the Week, House of Games, Roast Battle, The Stand Up Sketch Show and he performed stand up on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show for BBC1. He will soon be seen in World’s Most Dangerous Roads. He is a regular guest on podcasts and co-hosted the series Shared Baggage for Audible with Catherine Bohart.

Lauren Pattison
Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nominee 2017 and Edinburgh Best Show Nominee 2022, Lauren is a comedian, actor and writer. Her TV appearances include Stand up for Live Comedy (BBC1,) two episodes of Comedy Central at the Comedy Store (Comedy Central), Roast Battle (Comedy Central), hosting an episode of Takeshi’s Castle (Comedy Central),  The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC), The Great Christmas Rant (ITV2), The Blame Game (BBC One Northern Ireland) and internationally on New Zealand’s 7 Days (TV3), Australia’s Comedy Up Late (ABC) and Canada’s The Stand Up Show with Katherine Ryan (The Comedy Network Canada). 

Radio appearances include Unexpected Fluids, Wheel Of Misfortune and Scarlett Moffat Wants To Believe (BBC Radio 1), Radio 4’s Comedy Club and Newsjack Unplugged (BBC Radio 4).

Jay Lafferty
Sought after for her on point satirical views Jay Lafferty has become a regular face on BBC Scotland’s television channel. It was a performance on BBC’s Breaking The News that saw Lafferty hit the front page of The New York Times for her on point description of Theresa May’s catastrophic handling of the Brexit deal. Her Edinburgh Fringe 2019 hit solo show Jay Lafferty: Jammy was made into a BBC Radio Scotland three part series – Jay’s Jammy.

In 2022, she was chosen as one of the summer presenters for BBC Scotland’s flagship afternoon show. Jay shone while interviewing guests including Alan Carr, Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett.  After being crowned Best Compere at the Scottish Comedy Awards in 2019, in 2022 Jay was  nominated for Best Compere in the Chortle Comedy Awards narrowly missing out to TV favourite Zoe Lyons. Jay also cemented her spot as the host of the Edinburgh Fringe cult late night show Late N Live at the Gilded Balloon.

Sam Lake
Sam Lake is a stand-up comedian, writer and presenter. Sam openly shares stories and details from his life as a semi-camp gay man, moving from a small mining village to a big city and becoming a happily married man. Sam has racked up a number of achievements, including winning Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year and Hastings Fringe Newcomer of the Year. As well as this, Sam has recently starred in Dave’s “The Comedy Guide to Life” & All4’s “The Joy of Missing Out” with Tom Allen. His writing has been featured on Mock The Week (BBC 2), Breaking The News (BBC Radio Scotland) & Newsjack (BBC Radio 4 extra). He’s also the host of the podcast “I’ve Had a Rosé, Let’s Talk About Feelings”, and regularly performs at the biggest clubs up and down the country.

Stephen Buchanan
Stephen Buchanan has been described as “a stand-up comedian” by over 4 publications, so it must be true. In 2018 he won the Scottish Comedian of the Year competition and also became the first ever Scottish comedian to win the coveted BBC New Comedy Award. In 2021, Stephen recorded his debut BBC Radio 4 stand-up special entitled ‘Talking Shop’. You can/should listen to it on BBC Sounds! He has also performed stand-up on Jonathan Ross’ comedy Club (ITV), Comedy Underground (BBC Scotland), The Now Show (BBC Radio 4), The DriveTime Show (BBC Radio 2), The Arts Hour (BBC World Service). Stephen is also establishing himself as a promising writer with credits from Only An Excuse (BBC 1), Scot Squad (BBC 1), The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4), Breaking the News (BBC Radio Scotland), Sparks (Channel 4) and Short Stuff (BBC Scotland).