Mark Simmons (comedian)

Mark Simmons (born 1984 or 1985) is an English comedian, known for his one-liners, who won the UK's Comics Comic Award in 2022, and Dave's Joke of the Fringe Award in 2024.

Career

Before working as a comedian, Simmons worked in a gym.[1] He started his comedy career in 2008[1] supporting Sean Walsh.[2] Simmons is known for his one-liners.[3]

Simmons has appeared on UK panel show Mock the Week and produces the Jokes with Mark Simmons podcast.[1] One of his jokes was voted the second funniest at the Edinburgh Fridge in 2022.[4] At the festival he was compared to Tim Vine and Gary Delaney and was praised for his audience engagement.[5] Time Out compared his performance to Milton Jones and Noel Fielding.[6]

Simmons won the Comics Comic Award in 2022[7] and in 2024 was awarded Funniest Joke of the Fringe at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival[8]

Simmons was friends with Gareth Richards who died in April 2023.[9] At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023 alongside comedian friend Danny Ward, Simmons staged "A Show for Gareth Richards"[10] with Frank Skinner, Stewart Lee and Jack Whitehall. The show won the first Victoria Wood award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2023[11] and raised almost £20,000 for Gareth's family.[citation needed]

Personal life

Simmons is from Canterbury[12] and was born in 1984 or 1985.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Peel, Adrian (2022-11-03). "Stand-up comedian Mark Simmons: 'I failed until I stopped failing as much'". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  2. ^ "Mark Simmons: Escapism, Pressure, and Life Advice". University of Cambridge. 2022-11-04. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  3. ^ Guide, British Comedy (2023-01-01). "Mark Simmons named Comics' Comic 2022". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  4. ^ "Pasta one-liner wins best joke award at Edinburgh festival fringe". the Guardian. 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  5. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Mark Simmons – One-Linerer : Reviews 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  6. ^ "Mark Simmons – Mr review – Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 – Time Out Comedy". Time Out London. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  7. ^ "Comics Comic Award 2022 – Winners". Beyond The Joke. 2023-01-01. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  8. ^ "Funniest Joke at Edinburgh Fringe: Simmons' ship joke triumphs". BBC. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Comedian Gareth Richards dies after car crash". BBC News. 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  10. ^ "Crash tragedy comedian honoured with Fringe award". BBC News. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  11. ^ "2023 Winners". Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  12. ^ "Kent comic's joke makes Fringe top 10". Kent Online. 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2023-02-02.