08/08/2026
We, as the now unemployed former staff of Leicester Comedy Festival, would like to make a statement on the announcement of Big Difference Company’s liquidation.
Like many of you, we have spent the past months uninformed of the true extent of the jeopardy that Big Difference has been facing (to be clear: in this time we have also been left unpaid). If we were lucky, we found out news only moments before you. If not, we found out from articles and posts. We are left today, stunned and heartbroken at how far this has been allowed to go.
We are so sad. For working comedians, for venues, for audiences, but mostly: for Leicester.
It is our hope of all hopes that Leicester Comedy Festival and The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival can live on, with a model that works for all. We don’t know what that looks like and we know that the future is as uncertain as it could be right now. But, we know that there is far too much appetite and history for comedy in Leicester for this to be it.
To Leicester: please, support whatever's next, know that there will be good behind it. Keep supporting comedy in Leicester.
To comedians: we know you have been hurt by the decisions made by Big Difference Company, but please don’t let that mean Leicester falls off your radar. There are great promoters here, great venues, great audiences.
You may also be aware that Anthony, who ran The Big Difference Venue (in the end it was the last remaining part of the charity to make a profit), is bidding to take it over himself as a brand new community venture. Please support his fundraiser - the work he has done creating a safe space for music and community should not be put to waste by this nonsense. The crowdfunder is here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/big-tonys-venue-fundraiser
Thank you
Co-signed by the former staff of Leicester Comedy Festival
