Andy Askins is a musical comedian you can't second-guess. Voted Best UK Live Stand-Up by his fellow professionals — a peer panel of comedians and promoters — he's a sought-after headliner at the UK's major comedy clubs and corporate events, the rare act that audiences and comics rate in equal measure.
You never quite know which way he'll go: a story, a one-liner, an offbeat original song, a parody, even a poem. His set-up lines rival most comics' punchlines. The darker material, delivered with a wickedly dry wit, is disarmed by an innocent, mischievous charm — clever songs and sharp patter, all held together by impeccable timing and a modest, self-deprecating style that makes a room root for him.
Today he headlines at sea for Virgin Voyages and P&O Cruises, and tours internationally: the Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane Comedy Festivals with Mary Tobin Presents 'Best of British', the New Zealand Comedy Festival, and in 2026 the Perth and Sydney Comedy Festivals with Century Entertainment — where he closed the end-of-festival Sydney Comedy Gala at the Enmore Theatre. His humour travels: Switzerland, the Caribbean, Belgium, the UAE, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
He's also a firm favourite with the Armed Forces, having entertained troops on Naval ships in ports worldwide and at bases in conflict zones from Iraq and Afghanistan to Kosovo, Sarajevo, the Falklands and Somalia. For those frontline tours he was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal — a rare honour for a civilian entertainer.
His festival credits include 'The Man With No Name' at Edinburgh and 'A Little Brit Special' in Melbourne, plus Adelaide, the Perth Fringe, Galway and Altitude in Mayrhofen, Austria. On television he's appeared on The John Bishop Show (BBC1) and its Christmas special alongside Kylie Minogue and Olly Murs, recorded for Comedy Central, featured on two series each of 'Live at the Comedy Store' and 'The World Stands Up', and on BBC Scotland's 'Comedians at the Kings'. He has toured as support to Jason Manford, John Bishop, Lee Evans and Georgie Carroll, and shared stages with Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr, Jimmy Carr, Micky Flanagan, Harry Hill, Rhod Gilbert, Bill Bailey, Gina Yashere, Jim Jefferies, Sean Lock, Russell Howard, Greg Davies and Jack Dee.
Two decades in — from a company of soldiers in Saddam Hussein's palace in Iraq to a sold-out Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust — Andy's career spans the full spectrum, all 5'5" of him still standing tall among the finest names in live comedy.
