The comedy competition show is back for another series featuring performers with Sussex connections. Last One Laughing UK has launched on Prime Video featuring an updated lineup of comedic talent, among them Romesh Ranganathan, who grew up in Crawley, and Brighton-based Maisie Adam.
The concept is straightforward yet demanding. Ten stand-up comedians spend an entire day in the same space attempting to provoke laughter from one another while maintaining composure themselves.
Ranganathan previously taught mathematics at Hazelwick School in Crawley and frequently mentions his birthplace in his comedy performances, even titling his autobiography Straight Outta Crawley. He has more recently become a partner in Coughlans Bakery, which operates a location in Maidenbower within Crawley.
Maisie Adam, a Brighton inhabitant, recently discussed her life on the southern coastline in an interview with The Guardian. She described taking in the scenic coastal path past windmills leading to the Plough Inn in Rottingdean. The Yorkshire native admitted that despite her origins, the finest Sunday roast can be found in Sussex, describing it as heavenly. She noted that living in Brighton means being disturbed by gulls at 11 in the morning. Adam has featured on programmes including Live At The Apollo, A League Of Their Own and Mock the Week.
The two Sussex-based performers appear alongside fellow comedians Alan Carr, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Amy Gledhill, Diane Morgan, David Mitchell, Mel Giedroyc and Bob Mortimer, who studied at the University of Sussex.
Prime Video has made the opening three instalments available, with the fourth and fifth episodes scheduled for March 26 and the concluding episode set for April 2.
The programme continues to attract interest for its distinctive format and playful rivalry, offering viewers insight into some of Britain’s most popular comedic performers as they battle to keep straight faces.
The Guardian has described it as the funniest TV show of the year so far, noting that at a time when TV barely tries to tickle you, this show’s unabashed pursuit of actual mirth is not to be sniffed at.