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Seven comedians will compete in the Colchester Comedian of the Year final at Three Wise Monkeys in Colchester on Wednesday 7th October. Their routes into stand-up include supporting a friend at open mic nights, signing up on a whim and having a girlfriend make the decision for them.
Promoted and presented by Legion of Laughs, the final includes stand-up and improv, with the winner receiving the Jo Fletcher-Cross Trophy. Named in her memory, it recognises the warmth and generosity with which Jo helped shape the competition.
Louie Green has MC’d throughout the heats and returns to host the final. The Suffolk comedian tells stories about everyday life and has a knack for finding laughs whenever he chats with the audience.
Asked what had stood out during this year’s heats, organiser Gregory Edwards of Legion Of Laughs said “The willingness to go outside their comfort zone, the quality of acts and the general camaraderie that the comedy scene has, and two of the finalists are local.”
Ahead of the final, I asked all seven comedians how they started, what comedy they perform, and what they experienced during the competition.
Dan Springford
Dan Springford grew up watching Lee Evans and seeing how comedy kept his family laughing. A change in his life eventually prompted him to try it himself, and he is now touring UK theatres alongside Tom Stade. His opening heat brought an unusual encounter when he met Santa Claus in the audience. “He was in the audience and told me if I carried on he’d give me a lump for Christmas. Still waiting, Santa baby!”
Zuzana Spacirova
Zuzana Spacirova, originally from Slovakia, found stand-up two years ago through accompanying a friend to open mic nights. Her material draws on living abroad, finding humour in everyday situations and struggling to become a functioning adult. The competition’s improvised section proved challenging when she got on stage, and her mind went blank. Her verdict: “Can’t wait for that to happen again next week!”
Calvin Smith
Calvin Smith’s girlfriend signed him up for his first gig when faced with the prospect of seeing far too much of him. The London-born comedian now mixes dark humour with observations and self-deprecating stories about modern life and questionable judgement. In his opening heat, he found himself doing jokes about taking drugs before realising that members of his family had unexpectedly turned up to watch.
Thomas Marx
Colchester’s Thomas Marx began by signing up for an open mic on a whim. Fourteen months into performing, he has reached the finals of both the Colchester and Norwich Comedian of the Year competitions in 2026. His material comes from things that have happened in his own life, delivered with what he describes as an endearing energy. The standard of his fellow competitors made hearing his name announced after the heat particularly rewarding.
Samuel Day
Samuel Day’s introduction to stand-up came through a Norwich workshop three years ago. He describes his act as “high octane, jukebox comedy from East Anglia”, combining music with interactive fun and games. A winner of British Comedy Guide’s Stand Up and Deliver competition, he has also beaten several gong shows. Colchester audiences have already played a part, helping him recreate, in his words, “sort of” one of music’s greatest hits.
Ben Summers
Ben Summers took an Ultra Comedy course to build his confidence just over two years ago. Originally from Welwyn Garden City and now living in Essex, he followed that with open mic appearances before starting his own nights, The Ginger Giggle Club. His comedy draws on his life, and his wife was in the audience to see him win his heat and secure his place in the final.
Roger Dill
Roger Dill’s ambition began at around nine, when watching Lee Evans made him wonder how one person could command an audience simply through what they said. He performed at Center Parcs and came second in a school talent show, but it took turning 30 to give stand-up a proper go. The Colchester comedian describes his act as pun-filled storytelling, mixing self-deprecation with jokes that hold a mirror up to society.
The Colchester Comedian of the Year final takes place on the top floor of Three Wise Monkeys on Wednesday 7th October. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 early bird and £10 on the door; book in advance through Good Show.
