Hilarity Bites presents Paul Sinha, Angelos Epithemiou, Lauren Pattison, Tom Houghton & Host Hayley Ellis

Show details:

Paul Sinha

Comedian Paul Sinha was born in the UK to Bengali parents and the family medical dynasty. Whilst studying medicine in the 1990s, Paul took his first steps on the stand-up comedy circuit. He pursued both careers and at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe earned a nomination for the highest accolade in live comedy, the Edinburgh Comedy Award. Shortly after his nomination, Paul hung up his stethoscope to become a full-time comedian.

Paul is a familiar voice on radio with appearances on Radio 4's Just A Minute and The News Quiz and on BBC Radio 5 Live's Fighting Talk. His own Radio 4 series 'Paul Sinha's History Revision' won the Rose d'Or for radio comedy in 2016. He's also appeared on television on BBC's QI and Would I Lie to You? and as a competitor on Dave's Taskmaster.

A lifetime of curiosity and learning informs Paul's comedy but now also ranks him as one of the UK’s finest quizzers. This has led to yet another concurrent career, this time as a general knowledge expert on the award-winning ITV quiz show, The Chase.

“This is what a good stand-up should be. Hilariously funny, passionate and articulate” - Chortle

“One of those comedians who makes you realise the power of stand-up comedy and the respect it deserves as an art form” - Yorkshire Post

“An exceptionally skilled stand-up.... truly wonderful” - The Scotsman

 

Angelos Epithemiou

Cult favourite Angelos Epithemiou is the unwitting star of Shooting Stars (BBC2), Dave’s One Night Stand and Channel 4’s The Angelos Epithemiou Show.

Think Little Britain meets Vic and Bob meets a smattering of Ivan Brackenbury and then lower your expectations and get on board.

Angelos Epithemiou is the creation of critically acclaimed performer, Dan Renton Skinner, who has starred in such blockbuster films as The Spy Who Dumped Me, High Rise, and Swallows and Amazons for BBC Films and such TV serial-classics as The Tracy Ullman Show, Friday Night Dinner, and The Wrong Mans.

On 1 December 2019, Epithemiou appeared on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch but only for the start of the show when guests are introduced followed by the first cooking item which he interrupted part-way through by walking into shot to announce that he was leaving!

“He's shambolic, weird, wonderful, and nothing is off the table when Epithemiou is in the building” - Laugh Out Loud Comedy

 

Lauren Pattison

Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nominee 2017, Lauren is a comedian, actor and writer. Her TV appearances include two episodes of Comedy Central at the Comedy Store (Comedy Central), Roast Battle (Comedy Central), hosting an episode of Takeshi’s Castle (Comedy Central), The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC), The Great Christmas Rant (ITV2), The Blame Game (BBC One Northern Ireland) and internationally on New Zealand’s 7 Days (TV3), Australia’s Comedy Up Late (ABC) and Canada’s The Stand Up Show with Katherine Ryan (The Comedy Network Canada). As an actor her credits include Drunk History (Comedy Central), Jerk (BBC3), and Climaxed (BBC3).

She can currently be heard hosting the critically acclaimed weekly podcast Conversations Against Living Miserably, produced by the TV channel Dave in partnership with the Campaign Against Living Miserably. Now in its second series, the podcast has had guests including Richard Gadd, Jenny Eclair, Lou Sanders, Dane Baptiste and Stu Goldsmith. The Guardian described the show as “funny, kind and thought-provoking.”

In 2017, Lauren sold out her debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her critically acclaimed show Lady Muck. On top of her Best Newcomer nomination, Lauren won the prestigious Herald Angel Award and was nominated for Amused Moose Best Comedy Show. The 5-star show was the best-reviewed show at The Pleasance that year and was so popular that she added three extra sold-out shows. The success of the show saw it go on to a six-night sold-out run at London’s Soho Theatre, as well as runs at the Perth and Adelaide Fringe in Australia and the Auckland Comedy Festival in New Zealand.

A sought after act, Lauren is a regular at all the major national comedy clubs and has provided tour support for Katherine Ryan, Jason Manford, Kerry Godliman, Stewart Francis and Dane Baptiste, as well as gracing the comedy stages of Latitude and Reading and Leeds Festivals.

“a star of the future ... Lauren Pattison looks set for fame” - The List

“Even when packing a punch, her demeanour is breezy, frank and friendly, making her wickedly engaging company... a fully equipped comedian” - Chortle

“Fast, forthright and filthy” - The Guardian

 

Tom Houghton

Tom Houghton was previously 1/5th of comedy troupe "The Noise Next Door" and is now taking the comedy circuit by storm with his quick wit, and charming persona.

Regularly performing up and down the country and abroad - as well as touring the country in his own sell-out solo showss - you may even have caught him on Netflix's "The Circle", Channel Four's "First Dates Hotel", or at his sell-out debut Edinburgh Fringe show, which went on tour in early 2018. Tom is also hugely popular on social media, with millions of views across all platforms.

Strap in and be prepared to have your funny bones tickled and your levels of decency questioned by one of the hottest acts around.

“this unexpected tour de force warrants a 21-gun salute” - ★★★★ – The Daily Telegraph

“Please take my advice. Get a ticket today. Tomorrow may well be too late. A Star is Born” - ★★★★★ – One 4 Review

“The long awaited male answer to Bridget Jones made flesh” - ★★★★ – The Daily Telegraph

 

Hayley Ellis

Edinburgh Fringe: 25 funniest jokes of all-time - The Independent
Edinburgh Fringe: Best 21 jokes told at the festival in the last decade - The Mirror

Manchester comedian and former regular contributor to XFM’s breakfast show, Hayley Ellis has gone from strength to strength since she began performing.

A regular MC at gigs around the country, Hayley’s natural warmth and charm make her impossible to dislike, something which has become evident in her success in new act competitions throughout the UK.

Hayley has also become a regular sight gag contributor for the Russell Howard’s Good News television programme, and has appeared on MTV’s “Why aye love Geordie Shore” and “Comedy Set Lists” for Virgin television. She can also sometimes be heard on your wireless (Absolute Radio), and her sketches and jokes have appeared on Newsjack (Radio 4).


“Ellis is a talent” - Fest

“Hayley Ellis always makes me laugh off and on stage” - Sarah Millican

“A great hour of stand-up” - Northern Soul

 

Note: Line-ups are subject to change in extreme, and unavoidable, circumstances.

Show may contain strong language and adult themes.

 

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Timings

Doors open: 6:30pm
Show starts: 7:30pm

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Buy tickets:

Tickets for this show can be bought online at www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk, in person from the Darlington Hippodrome box office in the Cornmill Centre, or telephone 01325 405405.

Tickets for this show are £15 each, with doors opening at 7pm and the show starting at 7:30pm.