Comedy

I have been a stand-up comedian for over 20 years, and have had the great honour of being the resident compere at the multi-award winning XS Malarkey comedy club in Manchester since 1997. I also host New Stuff at The Comedy Store in Manchester every fortnight, and did the same at Limelight comedy club in Crewe for a number of years until it closed down (which was nothing to do with me). You can see me every first Wednesday of the month at The 99 Club in Leicester Square.

I don’t just MC – I have headlined gigs nationwide. I have also performed regularly at Robin Ince’s Book Club and Robin Ince’s School For Gifted Children, appeared alongside Marcus Brigstocke, Phill Jupitus, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Hattie Hayridge in the improv tour Totally Looped, done sets for Andy Zaltzman’s Political Animal at the Edinburgh Fringe, and was one of The Unbroadcastable Radio Show (a topical sketch group) at The Comedy Store every month between 2003-2009.

I am also experienced in after dinner speaking and have done lots of TV warm-up (including University Challenge – I was their go to guy for over ten years until budget cuts meant they stopped having one – a number of blocks of Mastermind, and the recent missing Dad’s Army remakes. I was actually offered a resident warm-up slot with Countdown but decided that it’s not really what I want to do so if you want me now it really has to be a special, or very well paid, project … but I can do it, that’s the point).

For my current gig list, go here.

Clubs for whom I have said funny things into a microphone:
The Comedy Store (Manchester, London, Leeds, Warrington, Durham, Bolton, Cleethorpes)
The 99 Club (various, London)
Covent Garden Comedy Club (London)
The Stand (Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow)
Headliners (London)
Crack Comedy (London)
Jongleurs (Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Camden, Reading, Watford)
Manfords (Preston, Newcastle, Didsbury, Blackpool)
The Buzz (Manchester, Buxton)
The Frog And Bucket (Manchester, Blackburn, Wigan, Preston)
The Dancehouse (Manchester)
Mirth On Monday (Manchester)
Group Therapy (Manchester)
Zumeba (Manchester)
The Laugh Inn (Chester)
Alexanders (Chester)
Jesters (Bristol)
The Ark (Headingly)
The Lescar (Sheffield)
Comedy Central (Liverpool)
The Good Ship (London)
Highlight (Camden, Leicester, Birmingham, Reading, Watford)
The Boat Show (London)
Slaughterhouse (Liverpool) and many, many more …

I am also asked to go on the radio a lot to say amusing things, and have been heard on Sarah Millican’s Elephant in the Room, Loose Ends, BBC GMR Live Election Coverage, Late Night Currie, Steven Nolan, Phil Williams, Richard Bacon, Anita Anand (all Five Live), Spanking New (Radio 7), Michelle Around Midnight (guest and co-presenter, BBC GMR), The Allan Beswick Show (guest presenter, BBC GMR) The Fred MacAulay Show (BBC Radio Scotland) Justin Moorehouse (Key 103) and have been on the presenting roster of Radio 4 Extra’s The 7th Dimension since 2010.

“Superior stand-up skills: very, very funny” – The Guardian

“The main thing that makes the night is resident compere Toby Hadoke, who treats the paying punters like friends popping round his house for a chat – trying out new material and creating at ambiance of relaxed, respectful bonhomie.”  – Chortle (at XS Malarkey)

“One of the local heroes of comedy – one of the regular highlights (of the night) is the genial and all-inclusive banter of Hadoke himself” – Ben Carlish, Metro

“One of the circuit’s leading comperes – an expert ringmaster, tackles hecklers with relish and zeal. A comedy genius” – Helen Duff, Metro

“His quick witted mix of left field topicality and observational asides ensures he’s rarely short of work” – Mike Barnett, Manchester Evening News

“Brilliant, had the audience in stitches” – Kevin Bourke, Manchester Evening News

“A stage manner more engaging than Henry VIII, and a wit sharper than an executioner’s axe. Good audience rapport and a slayer of hecklers” – The Big Issue

“PICK OF THE WEEK” – William Cook, The Guardian
(11 times as an individual, 10 times for Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf, 8 times for The Unbroadcastable Radio Show)

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

WINNER: Best Offstage Contributuion – Chortle Awards 2008
WINNER: The Les Dawson Award (inaugural winner beating a shortlist including Peter Kay, Daniel Kitson, Dave Spikey, Ken Dodd, Caroline Ahearne, Craig Cash and Steve Coogan) – 2003 North West Comedy Awards.
WINNER: Best Radio Comedy Content (Michelle Around Midnight, BBC GMR) – 2004 North West Comedy Awards.
WINNER: Best Comedy Club (XS Malarkey) – 2004, 2005 North West Comedy Awards.
WINNER: Best Comedy Club (North) (XS Malarkey) – Chortle Awards 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
WINNER: Best Comedy Club (XS Malarkey) – Manchester Evening News Awards 2013, 2014, 2015.
NOMINEE: Best Comedy (The Dad Who Fell to Earth) – BBC Audio Drama Awards 2016
NOMINEE: Best Compere – Chortle Awards 2012.
NOMINEE: Best Drama (Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf) – Sony Awards 2009.
NOMINEE: Best Touring Show (The Unbroadcastable Radio Show) – 2004 North West Comedy Awards.
NOMINEE: Best Comedy Writing (The Unbroadcastable Radio Show) – 2004 North West Comedy Awards.