Ian Smith is a multi-award winning comedian, actor, writer and double nominee of the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show.
He’s appeared on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Stand Up Sketch Show, and will be on the forthcoming series of QI, House of Games and Celebrity Mastermind. He is the co-host of the popular Northern News podcast with Amy Gledhill.
Ian is a regular on BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, which he has guest hosted twice – and has also appeared on The Now Show, Just A Minute, Unbelievable Truth, One Person Found This Helpful, Unspeakable and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. He’s had two series of his own Radio 4 stand-up show, Ian Smith is Stressed and hosted a new topical format The People Have Spoken this summer.
Ian’s 2023 Fringe show Crushing was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, shortlisted for the (ISH) Comedy Award and runner-up in Next Up’s “Biggest Award in Comedy”. The show transferred to Soho Theatre, where it sold out and extended its run, followed by a UK tour in 2024. His following show, 2025’s Foot Spa Half Empty was again nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award and long listed for the (ISH) Comedy Award, selling out his entire run and receiving critical acclaim. Following a sold out Soho Theatre run, Ian embarked on his biggest tour yet, as well as being invited to perform the show at Melbourne Comedy Festival.
Ian is also a talented actor – starting off as a lead in BBC2 sitcom Popatron. He has gone on to star alongside Katherine Parkinson in Sky comedy Officially Special and have a leading role in BBC1 drama The Ark, as well as a number of supporting roles including The Emily Atack Show, Siblings, Pls Like, BBC drama The Syndicate and the forthcoming Wrong Move.
“He is a master at turning minor panic into full-bodied punchlines”
★★★★★ The Telegraph
“There are few shows as purely funny as this” ★★★★ The Guardian
“An effortless brilliant stand-up” ★★★★ The Scotsman
“Ian Smith turns incredulity into an art form, confirming his status as the undisputed sultan of nerve-shredding stress” Rolling Stone
