Famous Comedians Who Started at the Cambridge Footlights

If you’re a fan of British comedy, you likely, whether you realize it or not, owe a great debt to the Cambridge Footlights – which has produced some of Britain's most famous comedians. This theatrical club at the University of Cambridge has given a platform for talented Britons to practice their craft and get their foot in the door.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Peter Cook
01:54 - John Cleese and Graham Chapman
03:49 - Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie
04:58 - David Mitchell and Robert Webb
05:57 - Sandi Toksvig
06:50 - Simon Bird and Joe Thomas
07:49 - Outro

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The King of Satire was Peter Cook, and it was with the Cambridge Footlights that he got his start. He went on to star in Beyond the Fringe – one of the most iconic satire stage shows of all time. He’s recognized as an icon of British comedy and has served as a mentor for many who came after him.

Both John Cleese and Graham Chapman made their name in the British comedy with Monty Python. Both are recognized as titans of UK comedy and John Cleese is still discussing comedy, and his career, and is an advocate for free speech. Both got their start at the Cambridge Footlights.

When the alternative comedy scene of the 1980s came around, the most famous duo was Fry and Laurie. Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie met at Cambridge and were both members of the Cambridge Footlights where they wrote and performed sketches. They worked together in shows such as Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster and films such as Peter’s Friends.

The best comedy duo for the noughties was Mitchell and Webb. David Mitchell and Robert Webb came from vastly different backgrounds but hit it off when they worked together at the Cambridge Footlights.

Likewise, Sandi Toksvig one of our favorite faces on UK TV today got her start with the Cambridge Footlights. As did Simon Bird and Joe Thomas, both stars in their own right among the younger generation of UK comedy fans!

Join FactsVerse UK to learn about a few of Britain’s famous comedians who started at the Cambridge Footlights.

Famous Comedians Who Started at the Cambridge Footlights