Penpont, Dumfries is known for sheep, magic mushrooms and crimefighter turned comic Leo Kearse
2017 Scottish Comedian Of The Year
Having worked in criminal intelligence and as a policing consultant Leo chanced one of his rather long arms at stand up. And liked it. So much so he ended up with two jobs, was burning the candle at both ends and doing both badly; “So I quit my day job. Now I just do comedy badly.
” ★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ List
Leo is a huge fan of iconoclastic compatriots Billy Connolly and Jerry Sadowitz as well as the loud, irreverent, opinionated, charismatic US acts like Bill Burr and Chris Rock.
2015 UK Pun Champion
He’s also one of Britain’s few openly right wing circuit comedians;
“ I say openly because all comedians are right wing really, they’re self-starting Thatcherite entrepreneurs, hustling for work in a free market, and none of them pay full tax on all their cash earnings. They just pretend to be cuddly socialists so that people think they’re nice.“
“Genuinely thought-provoking…hugely entertaining” The Scotsman
Describing his act as ‘fun and punchy’, Leo’s main on stage concern is that the audience have a good time. Every time. If you want to laugh along to Leo’s politics you’ll have to catch him on tour as he shrewdly keeps his club and corporate performances apolitical. There’s also the possibility that he will be a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Reclaim for the Scottish Parliament but we will know more about that on 7 May. Leo divides his time between Glasgow and London.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT LEO KEARSE
★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★ The List ★★★★ Three Weeks
★★★★ London Theatre ★ The National Student
“Genuinely thought-provoking…hugely entertaining” The Scotsman
“Very funny, very dirty, occasionally shocking, but edgily likeable” The List
“Triumphant…. …outrageous and dark” British Comedy Guide
“Churns out the gags, provoking a steady stream of laughs” Chortle
“Genuinely offensive…a traumatic experience” The National Student
LEO KEARSE FUN FACT
Leo was a backing dancer for David Icke’s Wembley Arena conspiracy theory lecture. WARNING! Googling “David Icke Non Comply Dance” could result in seeing Leo dancing. In snakeskin spandex.
THE BEST HECKLE LEO EVER RECEIVED
Dubai. 2020. First gig in months so I was nervous. I asked a guy if he said anything during sex. He said “Well I’m seeing your cousin so you can ask her”. My cousin who I met once thirty years ago was sitting right there! She’d seen my name on the line up and brought her boyfriend hence the hilarious Surprise Surprise style reunion halfway through my set.
LEO KEARSE’S WEIRDEST GIG
A holiday park for really really old people. There were handrails everywhere and it smelt like a hospital. Alarm bells clanged as I was told;
“You’re OK doing 45 minutes of clean, yeah And can you finish on a song?” At the time I could do ten minutes of clean. And I can’t sing.
I leapt down from the stage and scampered across to the audience and tried some banter;
“Hello! What’s your name?”
The woman’s head rolled slowly round. She opened her mouth, shut it, then rasped
“Ethel”.
“Lovely to meet you Ethel! Have you come far?”
Another woman leaned over “She can’t really talk, love”
43 minutes and 52 seconds to go.
I start a joke but remember the punchline is a reference to my dick! I change it to my finger and everyone stares at me, bemused. I try to cheekily point out I meant my dick. 280 octogenarians tut simultaneously.
I’m trying everything to stay afloat. Puns, impressions, funny dancing. One table sees the ridiculousness of the situation and is howling with laughter,
Others start to leave.
I hear a clatter and turn round. Someone has dropped their crutches. I’m bombing so hard, people who can’t walk are walking out. I’m curing them like a really unpopular faith healer.
As soon as I mention finishing, the house band starts up, as if they’ve been poised to do so for 43 minutes. Backstage the showrunner says “We usually get the guys who do old jokes everyone likes”. There’s a weird parallel circuit where men put on tuxedos, grin like televangelists and do old Jim Davidson jokes. The two circuits rarely mix.
I’m wheel spinning across the gravel before Ethel’s got up for a dance. Still, the cheque didn’t bounce…..
LEO KEARSE’S FAVOURITE GIGS
My favourite regular rooms are Top Secret in London and Comedy Unleashed at the Backyard Club in London.
LEO KEARSE’S FESTIVAL APPEARANCES
Transgressive Adelaide Fringe 2020
Transgressive Perth Fringe 2020
Right-Wing Comedian Adelaide Fringe 2019
Right Wing Comedian, Hate N Live Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019
Right Wing Comedian, Melbourne Comedy Festival 2019
Right Wing Comedian, Perth Fringe 2019
Right-Wing Comedian, Hate N Live Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018
I Can Make You Tory, Hate N Live Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017
The Mangina Funalogs, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016
LEO KEARSE ON THE TELLY
Scotland Made Me. BBC Scotland. 2021
Muckspreaders. BBC Scotland. 2021
Breaking The Band: Fleetwood Mac. Reelz, 2019
UK Pun Championship Promo. Dave TV. 2014
Funny Business. BBC2. 2012
LEO KEARSE ON THE RADIO
Radio 5 Question Time Extra Time ⬥ TalkSPORT Extra Time ⬥
Radio 5 Live ⬥ BBC Radio Scotland ⬥ Times Radio ⬥ TalkRADIO
LEO KEARSE HAS WRITTEN JOKES FOR
Mock The Week Breaking The News
The Mash Report Question Time
LEO KEARSE CORPORATE CLIENTS
Amazon ⬥ Plumbcity ⬥ Soho House ⬥ On-Air Liverpool ⬥ On-Air Liverpool ⬥
Simpatico PR ⬥ Adyen ⬥ YouTube ⬥ Sporting Agenda ⬥ William Hill ⬥
LEO KEARSE IN ACTION