The Funniest Female Comedians in the UK
It's International Women's Day! and what better way to celebrate that than by letting you in on all the women in the UK who know how to grab onto your funny bone and unleash snorts of giggles?
Last updated: 13th Apr 2026
Originally published: 5th Mar 2024
It's International Women's Day! And what better way to celebrate that than by letting you in on all the women in the UK who know how to grab onto your funny bone and unleash snorts of giggles?
From household names to up-and-comers, comics who toe the line to others who bask in their own innate silliness, character comics to straight-talking realists; the women in the UK comedy scene hold no bounds, and we've got them all, and whatever your sense of humour, there's bound to be a woman on here who will make your sides split.
So then, who are the best female comedians? We hear you cry. Well, scroll down and check out who we here at Skiddle think are the funniest women in the UK!
Katherine Ryan
Where to start with Katherine Ryan? One of the biggest and most instantly recognisable women in UK comedy. Canadian by birth but deeply embedded in the UK scene, she has won numerous awards and has appeared on absolutely any show designed to make you laugh, you can think of.
A true expert of her craft who is self-loving, comically cynical, razor-sharp, and always with a point to prove, Katherine's comedy shines brighter than most in the country, and she firmly deserves her place on any list like this.
Maisie Adam
Maisie Adam has been on a winsome rampage of the UK comedy scene over the last few years, and her Yorkshire-tinged witty observations, high-octane energy and brilliant anecdotes on modern-day living leave very few without aching sides.
Maisie has been on all the panel shows, has been nominated for Fringe's best newcomer, and is leaving all the biggest stages in her wake, so, if you are not aware of her yet, whilst you may be slightly late to the party, there's still more than enough room in her fan club, and after you've watched just one of her bits, you'll see what we're all on about. Infinitely likeable, with an awkward Northern temperament that endears and makes everything all the funnier, Maisie is truly one of the best female comedians in the country.
Ania Magliano
Shooting onto our screens in recent years with her Taskmaster antics and now co-hosting the wonderful and astutely hilarious Weekend Update on UK SNL, it's been hard to miss, and even harder not to love Ania Magliano.
Away from the screen, Ania is no stranger either. A finalist for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer and seasoned club comic, Ania's stand-up blends her dry and awkward delivery with perfectly judged observations on everything from relationships to the absurdities of modern life, and punchlines that creep up on you. She's here to stay, and we will be seated the whole time.
Michelle De Swarte
Michelle has moved country four times, been homeless three times, been a fashion model, a cleaner, a reporter, a presenter, a writer, a cat sitter and an actor. Married, divorced, on drugs, off drugs; now, she has firmly cemented herself as one of the Queens of UK comedy.
With an aurora of pure confidence and an infectious charm, her stand-up is just so damn entertaining and never fails to make us snort out a giggle. Last year, she was even named as one of Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch for 2025. Go and see her, and you'll see every single reason why she deserves a spot among the best British female comedians!
Sara Pascoe
If you don't know Sara Pascoe, what country have you been living in? One of the most acclaimed comedians of her generation, we can't imagine a list like this without her on it.
Whether she's on the telly, heading off to the worst tourist traps in the world alongside Roisin Conaty, or touring the planet with the wit and weirdness of her latest tour, 'I Am A Strange Gloop', Pascoe is still killing it to this day and is always a delight to watch live or on the telly.
Fern Brady
The Scottish queen Fern Brady is brilliantly brutal, beautifully blunt, and every single time she takes the stage, the laughs come thick and fast. With a deadpan Scottish delivery that makes just about everything funnier, Fern is a true master and one of the best female comedians Scotland has ever produced.
With shows themed about everything from feminism, existential despair, porn, past relationships, animals, and the creepiness of men, Fern's comedy is a hilarious amalgamation of dark and light that'll have you trying to toe the line in your head whilst steadying yourself from the giggles.
Sarah Millican
Sarah Milliacan's infectious musings have made her one of the biggest touring comedians in the world, we're talking nineteen different countries, and over half a million people from her latest show, Late Bloomer!
Her warm Geordie charm has also pretty much endeared her to the entire nation, and her comedy feels like a chat with your funniest mate (just with a lot more punchlines). So, in our opinion, Sarah is undoubtedly one of the best female comedians to see live.
Sophie Duker
Sophie Duker is a comedian and writer whose favourite things include 'breaking hearts, taking names and telling jokes with the confidence of a cis straight middle-class white man.'
Whether it be her 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Show, Venus, which saw her nominated for the Best Newcomer award, or her TV appearances, most notably her series of Taskmaster, Sophie Duker is a highly intelligent, highly wacky, and highly lovable comedian who has won the hearts and laughs of many and is truly one of the best in the business.
Lindsay Santorno
Sometimes, comedy can get a bit pompous and stuck in trying to be too clever. Well, Lindsey Santoro is here to cut the crap and indulge you in some proper silly, fun, and often outrageous comedy, accentuated by her hearty brummie giggles.
Having been crushing the club scene for years, 2023 saw her debut hour at the Fringe, deservedly nominated for the best newcomer award, and she just has that naturally effusive energy on stage that makes you feel like you’ve known her for years. Truly one of the funniest and most original women in club comedy!
Fatiha El-Ghorri
The Hackney-born Fatiha El-Ghorri cemented herself in the country's hearts as the breakout star of Taskmaster series 19, and, where stand-up is concerned, she's already won the awards darling.
Her unashamedly sharp, aggressively witty observations challenge stereotypes, revel in sillyness, and always have humour rooted in her experiences as a British Muslim hijabi woman. She's bloody brilliant, and we want to see more and more of her on stage and on the telly.
Laura Smyth
Laura Smyth is one of the UK comedy scene's most hilarious straight talkers, East-London through and through, with a wicked sense of humour that's smashed the expectations of every show and stage she's been on.
Whether she's having fun mugging off all the madness of parenting, childhood, school, marriage, social media, work, or chasing her dreams, in her own inimitable style, Laura gets to the truth of the human experience, treading the line between bluntness and warmth with hilarious abandon.
Jen Brister
Jen Brister is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian and writer whose rages against life have become something of comedic legend. Filled with hilariously placed scorn and rage for all the people, tidbits, and facets of life that annoy her the most, Jen always manages to pick up on the most ludicrous of details upon which comedy thrives.
It also seems to be done with enviable ease, and if you have the chance to see her live, snatch at it. Jen Brister is one of the very best.
Nina Conti
Royal Shakespeare Actor turned the funniest and arguably greatest living British ventriloquist, Nina Conti, is not your average comedian. She's won a British Comedy Award, stormed Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard’s Good News, Sunday Night at the Palladium, and made a BAFTA-nominated film - all without even moving her lips.
A sight to behold and one of the most original and stupidly funny acts on the circuit working today, Nina has to be on every comedy fan's bucket list. Easily one of the funniest women in the country.
Hatty Preston
London-born, Chicago-built, Liverpool-living; Hatty Preston is an absolute riot and one of the most underrated comics in the biz.
Whether she’s opening for major US and UK comics like Theo Von, Chris DiStefano, Jessica Kirson and Jack Whitehall; being a regular with the Have A Word Boys on episodes and specials; or on her new side-splitting podcast with Scouse queen Kay Nicholson - Hatty kills, and you simply HAVE to catch her live.
Lorna Rose Treen
Lorna Rose Treen, aka the greatest thing to come out of Redditch since the fishing tackle, is a Birmingham-based comic that operates on the character side of the art form, embodying a multitude of different characters and digging into their oft-absurd humour effortlessly.
Whether it's her character, Skin Pigeon, from her debut Edinburgh Fringe show, or the equally absurd array of acts she has become throughout her blossoming comedy career, we think Lorna is one of the most exciting women in the scene and deserves a spot on a list like this!
To find some of the funniest comedy shows from across the UK, check out our Things To Do page and our UK Comedy Guide Inspire Me.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
