Research & Reports
we have identified key challenges for the comedy industry.
Disclaimer: One of the biggest issues for comedy is data tracking and accountability. Information on this page is based on our research and findings. It is not exhaustive - for example, we have not fully explored Scotland, Ireland and Wales; or screen based public investment. We view our research as a foundation for further insight and we welcome updates and encourage ongoing discussion and exploration.
We need to understand what and how funding is flowing into the comedy sector. This helps us understand the missed upsides and encourages investment.
💡Comedy Industry Funding and Visibility
Comedy Industry Funding (1999–2025): Identifying the Gaps
1999–2025: Research indicates that over the past 25 years, only £14.4m in direct funding has been allocated to comedy industry-specific individuals and businesses. While this may not reflect all available funding, it highlights a significant lack of structured investment in the sector. (Specific = comedy club vs. theatre with comedy shows)
2023/24 alone: National funding allocations from DCMS (£7.9bn) and UKRI (£8.8bn) totalled £16.7bn. Even with some crossover, the contrast is stark:
Comedy has been awarded just £14.4m over 25 years
This averages £576k per year
= 0.003% / £16.7bn available annually to areas comedy could access.
Comedy remains overlooked in funding distribution, facing structural barriers that limit investment and growth. While other creative sectors are better positioned to adapt to the AI-driven Fourth Industrial era, comedy is left without the investment, support, or strategic roadmap needed to secure its future.
DCMS Funding Allocations for Creative Industry Bodies (Fiscal Year 2023/24) - £7.9 billion
(Sources: ACE, NAO.org.uk, UKRI Annual Report 2023/24)
Arts Council England (ACE): £798.3m; supports arts, culture, and creativity; £149m for theatres in England.
National Lottery Distribution Fund: £1.804bn; funds arts, heritage, sport, and community projects.
UKRI: Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): £85m; funds arts, humanities, research + AI.
UKRI: Innovate UK (IUK): £819m; supports innovation, immersive tech; incl. creative sector + AI.
Public Service Broadcasting: £4.02bn; funds BBC, S4C, and public media initiatives.
Museums and Galleries: £635m; supports national museums, exhibitions, and cultural preservation.
Sports: £331m; funds grassroots initiatives, major sporting events, and physical activity programs.
Heritage: £256m; supports conservation and promotion of historical sites and heritage programs.
Libraries: £156m; funds public libraries and literacy initiatives.
National Citizen Service: £47m; provides programs for youth development and community engagement.
Tourism: £53m; supports tourism promotion and development.
Administration and Research: £80m; ensures effective governance and policy-making.
UKRI Budget Allocations and Research Council Funding (Fiscal Year 2023/24) - £8.8 billion
(Sources: UKRI.org; UKRI Councils: AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, Innovate UK (IUK), MRC, NERC, STFC, and RE.)
Funding supports: Wide range of research and innovation, encompassing various disciplines and sectors. The comedy industry could benefit from UKRI support across multiple councils, but structured access to funding remains limited—highlighting the need for greater recognition and inclusion within research and innovation strategies. For example:
Creative industries & cultural research: AHRC, IUK
Social impact & cultural research: ESRC, AHRC
Technological advancements: EPSRC, STFC
Business innovation: IUK
Health & well-being interventions: MRC, ESRC, AHRC
Digital & AI innovation: EPSRC, IUK
Immersive & AI technology: AHRC, EPSRC, IUK, STFC
💡Visibility in the arts, business, and tech
Comedy is rarely acknowledged in official UK creative industry reports and policies—a major gap in recognition and representation. The ongoing lack of representation in policy discussions continues to restrict comedy’s access to public funding. Comedy needs to be seen to be heard.
Creative Industries Council (CIC)
Since its formation in 2011, the comedy industry has never had a sector-specific representative on the CIC. The CIC advises on key issues like funding, skills, export markets, innovation, and intellectual property (IP). The CIC is represented by Broadcasting & Media, Film & Video, Music, Digital & Tech, Publishing, Arts & Culture, Design, Fashion, Video Games, Intellectual Property, Creative Economy & Innovation, and Education & Research.
Comedy is missing in key Government strategy reports and consultations
The below listed reports are examples of how comedy is not mentioned once within creative industries and emerging tech documentation, despite emerging tech’s growing impact on the industry:
Creative Industries Sector Plan (2025),
Creative Technology Report (2025),
Coronation Challenge CreaTech Report (2025),
Copyright and AI Consultation (2024),
Dormant Assets Scheme Consultation (2025),
Better Futures Fund (2025), and
ACE Review (2025) .
💡Key funding and tax relief notes
List not exhaustive- as at March 2025.
The Arts Councils of the UK
'Comedy' is not recognised as a standalone artform by the UK Arts Councils and therefore does not have a direct pathway to funding. Instead, it must fit within one of ten recognised artforms: Combined Arts, Dance, Libraries, Literature, Museums, Music, Theatre, Digital Arts and Visual Arts. Comedy can qualify if linked to a supported artform (e.g., stand-up = Theatre). However, industry feedback suggests the sector is not applying for funding, as there is a struggle to fit comedy within existing categories.
ACE National Portfolio Organisations (NPO) Funding & Comedy
2010–present: A request for information of the NPO awards indicates no dedicated comedy-specific organisations funded (e.g. a comedy club vs. theatre showing funding). Only six theatres and combined arts groups received £7.5m, 'using the applicant name, project title, or sub-classifier containing the word ‘comedy'.
ACE Culture Recovery Fund (CRF / COVID-19)
2020: Comedy was largely absent from early CRF funding and, only after industry pressure, 23 comedy-related organisations received £3.8m (out of the £1.87 billion total) - significantly less than other performing arts sectors due to funds already being allocated to other creative industries. Comedy's lack of a dedicated funding category—i.e., recognition as an artform—made it harder to be initially considered in this crisis and for clubs/organisations to qualify.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
2004–2025: Only two comedy-specifc organisations have ever been awarded, across 60,000+ grants and billions of pounds of funding issued - £683K.
The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF)
2004–present: ‘Comedy’ search returned 118 results, total awarded amount of £4.4m distributed across 99 recipient organisations (no individuals); funding mostly between £500-£50k. While these grants include comedy-related projects, the funding appears sporadic rather than part of a structured investment strategy for the industry.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)
1999–present: Only two comedy industry organisations were awarded funding under a search for ‘comedy’, with £5.5m distributed across 16 projects. The remaining funding supported heritage, theatre, and community projects that incorporated comedy as part of a broader cultural or educational initiative.
Theatre Tax Relief (TTR)
2014–present: Registered UK companies (not individuals) can apply for theatre productions, including plays, musicals, ballet, and opera. HMRC assesses comedy productions on a case-by-case basis which must be scripted or structured: casual, improvised, open-mic, or broadcast-focused shows are unlikely to qualify. Since TTR was introduced, as of August 2023, £455 million has been paid out relating to 6,200 claims. This represents 20,395 productions.