Lily Phillips is a fast-rising UK stand‑up comedian, actor and writer known for bold feminist material, TV appearances on shows like The Stand Up Sketch Show and her critically praised Edinburgh Fringe hours including Smut and Crying. She has built a reputation for sharp, self‑aware storytelling that tackles relationships, gender politics and everyday chaos with a mix of warmth and bite, making her one of the most talked‑about new voices on the British comedy circuit. This article explores Lily Phillips’s career, major shows, TV and podcast work, live dates, and practical tips for seeing her perform, with a clear structure designed for quick scanning and in‑depth reading.
Lily Phillips has emerged as one of the UK’s most exciting up‑and‑coming comedians, moving from dance and odd jobs into a full‑time comedy career that spans stand‑up, television, radio and online projects. Audiences know her for punchy routines about feminism, sex and modern relationships, delivered with an unapologetic confidence that has earned her award nominations and prime TV slots. Her work ranges from Edinburgh Fringe solo hours to panel appearances, sketch shows and documentary‑style projects, giving her a growing profile among mainstream and comedy‑fan audiences alike.
Over the last few years, Lily has progressed through key new‑act competitions, becoming a finalist or nominee in major UK comedy awards, while also landing a series regular role on ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show and fronting campaigns for brands like Domino’s and Bumble. Her debut Fringe hour Smut drew strong reviews in 2022 and positioned her as a must‑see act for festival‑goers, while her 2025 show Crying has been picked out in Fringe preview lists and specialist coverage. Beyond live stand‑up, she has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and online comedy platforms, and has begun to front or present digital documentaries and specials, expanding her reach to wider audiences.
Early life and background
Lily Phillips grew up in London and initially trained and worked as a dancer, taking on a variety of short‑term and unconventional jobs between contracts before switching her focus to comedy. These experiences, which include performing as a Disney princess impersonator at children’s parties and even modelling in a mermaid outfit to promote fish and chips, later became material in her stand‑up, especially in her debut hour Smut.
Her move into stand‑up began on the competitive London open‑mic circuit in the late 2010s, where she quickly stood out for combining polished performance skills with a distinctive feminist perspective. Within a few years, she was being booked at leading London clubs and festivals, setting the stage for higher‑profile TV opportunities and her selection for prestigious new‑act showcases.
Comedy career and style
Lily’s comedy is best described as bold, confessional and sharply feminist, mixing frank discussions of sex and bodies with observational jokes about social expectations and modern dating. She often flips stereotypical narratives about women and relationships, using playful exaggeration and personal anecdotes to puncture sexist assumptions. Her sets are high‑energy and physical, drawing on her performance background to keep audiences engaged.
A recurring theme in her work is the tension between how women are expected to behave and how they actually feel, which she mines for both absurdity and relatability. She frequently references her own experiences, but frames them in a way that makes them recognisable to a broad audience, including male viewers who may not share her perspective but respond to the honesty and rhythm of the material. This combination of personal vulnerability and robust punchlines has underpinned her rise on the UK circuit.
Competitions and recognition
Lily Phillips’s rise has been marked by strong performances in high‑profile comedy competitions and bursary schemes that spotlight promising newcomers. She was a finalist or nominee in a series of awards, including the Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year competition, the Funny Women Awards, the Brighton Komedia New Comedy Award, and the BBC New Comedy Award in 2021. These accolades helped secure her reputation with bookers and critics, signalling that she was more than just a club regular.
She was also selected for the Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, a curated showcase that has historically launched the careers of several major UK comics. In 2022, she received a 99 Club bursary, an initiative supporting emerging talent, further underlining industry confidence in her trajectory. Alongside live performance recognition, her scriptwriting made the top three shortlist in the Funny Women Writer’s Award, sponsored by Sky Studios, highlighting her versatility beyond stand‑up.
Edinburgh Fringe shows
Lily’s relationship with the Edinburgh Fringe began with ensemble appearances before moving into solo work‑in‑progress and full runs. She took part in the Pleasance Comedy Reserve in 2019, sharing the bill with other rising comics and using the intensive festival environment to develop material and stagecraft. In 2021, she presented a split‑bill or work‑in‑progress show with fellow comedian Anna Clifford, testing longer routines and themes that would feed into her debut hour.
Her debut full show, Smut, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and was widely praised for blending personal stories from her pre‑comedy life with provocative commentary on sex and gender. The show was highlighted by festival coverage as a strong debut and helped to position her as a leading name among the new wave of UK feminist comedians. In 2025, she returned to the festival with a new hour titled Crying, which was flagged by outlets such as the Evening Standard as one of the shows to watch that year.
Themes in Smut and Crying
Smut used Lily’s experiences as a dancer, occasional party princess, and even a mermaid‑costumed model as the backbone for a broader exploration of objectification, autonomy and the messy reality of sexual politics. The show contrasted the glossy, idealised images expected in performance and advertising with the awkward, often absurd behind‑the‑scenes reality, generating laughs from the gap between fantasy and truth. Critics highlighted the way she combined explicit content with emotional honesty, making the show feel both raucous and surprisingly sincere.
Crying, by contrast, leans into vulnerability and emotional overload, examining how people—especially women—are labelled as too sensitive or dramatic when they express feelings. While still packed with punchlines and bold observations, the show reportedly digs deeper into anxiety, expectations and the pressure to appear “together” in public, marking a natural evolution from her earlier, more outwardly rowdy sets. Together, the two hours trace a journey from external perceptions of the body toward internal emotional life.
TV, radio and online work
Beyond the live circuit, Lily Phillips has steadily built a TV and audio profile that introduces her comedy to much larger audiences. She is a series regular on ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show, including its Christmas specials, where comics act out their own stand‑up stories, blending performance and sketch. She has also appeared in BBC Three’s Period Dramas, the All 4 series The Joy of Missing Out, and shorts for Comedy Central’s online platforms.
On radio and audio, Lily has featured on BBC Radio 4, including appearances on programmes that focus on sex, relationships and bodily taboos, aligning with her stage persona. She has also guested on podcasts and online interview series, discussing her creative process, feminist outlook and experiences in the industry. In 2024 she presented or fronted a YouTube documentary with the provocative title I Slept with 100 Men in One Day, leaning into a deliberately eye‑catching premise to explore broader themes of sexuality and public judgement.
Acting, writing and brand work
Lily Phillips’s acting credits include roles and appearances in TV sketch and comedy‑adjacent shows, as well as projects listed on her IMDb profile such as LMAOF and multiple episodes of The Stand Up Sketch Show. Her screen work often overlaps with her stand‑up voice, allowing her to play heightened versions of herself or characters built around the themes she regularly addresses. This crossover helps reinforce a coherent comic persona across stage and screen.
As a writer, Lily has gained recognition not just for stand‑up but for scripted work, with her script reaching the final three in the Funny Women Writer’s Award. She has also fronted advertising and social campaigns for brands including Domino’s, North Face, Bumble and Mooncup, which seek out her distinctively feminist but accessible tone. These collaborations extend her visibility beyond traditional comedy channels and indicate growing commercial appeal.
Live shows and touring
Lily performs regularly at major London comedy clubs and across the UK, often on mixed bills alongside established headliners. She has appeared at respected venues such as Comedy Carnival and Boatshow Comedy Club, where she is booked as a strong club act capable of headlining or providing a standout middle set. Her Edinburgh shows have also led to regional dates where she brings full hours or extended sets to city venues.
Current and upcoming dates are typically listed on comedy listings sites, individual club websites and festival programmes. For example, late‑2025 schedules include ticketed appearances at venues like arts centres and theatres, with prices in the mid‑teens to mid‑twenties in pounds, reflecting her status as a rising but increasingly in‑demand act. Because line‑ups can change, it is always important for fans to check event pages shortly before the performance.
Example recent dates and prices
Below is an illustrative snapshot of some listed UK performances, showing the kind of venues and prices associated with Lily Phillips’s live shows.
| Date (example) | City & venue | Approx. ticket price | Notes |
| 12 Dec 2025 | London, ArtsDepot | About £26–27 | Evening show, theatre setting. |
| 22 Mar 2026 | Bristol, Wardrobe Theatre / Old Market Assembly | About £14 | Intimate venue, early evening. |
| Club nights | London (various clubs) | Typically £10–£25 depending on line‑up | Mixed bills with multiple comedians. |
Prices can vary by promoter, city and whether the show is a full solo hour, festival slot or multi‑act bill.
Practical information and planning
Because Lily Phillips performs across many platforms and locations rather than in a single fixed venue, planning to see her live starts with checking current listings on club sites, festival programmes and her agents’ or booking pages. Typical evening club shows start between 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm, with doors opening 30–45 minutes earlier, while Fringe or theatre solo shows may have set time slots in late afternoon or evening. For major festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, she usually appears daily or near‑daily across the run, with precise dates and times listed in the official programme.
Ticket prices for Lily’s performances commonly range from roughly £10 to £15 for smaller club or work‑in‑progress shows, up to around £25–£27 for larger theatre spaces or high‑demand dates. Purchasing in advance via official venue or festival sites is recommended, especially during Edinburgh Fringe or at London weekend dates where shows may sell out. Many venues offer concessions for students or local residents, and some preview or work‑in‑progress shows are cheaper than fully polished tour dates.
For transport, central London comedy clubs are usually reachable by Underground and bus, while Edinburgh Fringe venues cluster around the Old Town, New Town and university areas, all walkable or linked by regular buses. Regional dates at arts centres and theatres are generally accessible by local public transport and often offer on‑site or nearby parking. Always check the individual venue’s accessibility information if you have mobility or other needs, as facilities differ.
When attending a Lily Phillips show, audiences can expect frank and sometimes explicit material about sex and bodies, delivered with humour and a clear feminist standpoint, so it may not be suitable for younger children. Sets at clubs usually last 15–30 minutes as part of a multi‑act line‑up, while solo hours at festivals and theatres run around 60 minutes. Arriving early helps secure good seats, especially in unreserved venues or at festival rooms with limited capacity.
Seasonal and timely angles
Lily’s profile typically spikes around August during the Edinburgh Fringe, when she presents a new or developed hour and appears in media coverage and daily reviews. Her shows have been singled out in “must‑see” lists, adding to word‑of‑mouth buzz and leading to busier rooms as the festival progresses. For fans keen to catch her at a key creative moment, booking early in the Fringe run can offer a chance to see new material before it becomes widely known.
Television and audio appearances may cluster seasonally as well, with series runs of The Stand Up Sketch Show, BBC radio slots and digital releases often scheduled in blocks across the year. Online projects such as YouTube documentaries and podcast interviews can drop at any time, so subscribing to relevant channels or following her public profiles is a practical way to keep up with new work. This staggered release pattern means there are usually fresh ways to watch or listen to her, even outside of festival seasons.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lily Phillips?
Lily Phillips is a London‑born stand‑up comedian, actor and writer known for feminist, sex‑positive comedy and appearances on TV shows like The Stand Up Sketch Show, BBC Three shorts and radio programmes. She performs regularly at UK comedy clubs and festivals, including solo hours at the Edinburgh Fringe.
What is Lily Phillips famous for?
She is best known for her bold, confessional stand‑up, her debut Edinburgh Fringe hour Smut and her later show Crying, as well as being a series regular on ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show. Her mix of explicit humour, social commentary and personal storytelling has made her a prominent voice in contemporary UK comedy.
What are Lily Phillips’s main Edinburgh Fringe shows?
Lily’s major Edinburgh Fringe shows include her debut hour Smut in 2022 and her 2025 show Crying, following earlier appearances in the Pleasance Comedy Reserve and work‑in‑progress split bills. These shows have been highlighted by festival media and critics as standout examples of modern, feminist stand‑up.
Has Lily Phillips won any comedy awards?
Lily has been a finalist or nominee in several notable competitions, including Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year, the Funny Women Awards, the Brighton Komedia New Comedy Award and the BBC New Comedy Award 2021. She also received a 99 Club bursary and reached the final three in the Funny Women Writer’s Award with a script project.
What TV shows has Lily Phillips been on?
Her TV credits include multiple series of ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show and its Christmas specials, BBC Three’s Period Dramas, the All 4 show The Joy of Missing Out and online work for Comedy Central. She also appears in programmes listed on IMDb under titles like LMAOF alongside other comedy projects.
Does Lily Phillips do podcasts or radio?
Yes, Lily has appeared on BBC Radio 4 in shows that tackle sex and bodily topics, as well as guesting on podcasts and online talk shows where she discusses her career and comedic themes. She has also featured in or fronted documentary‑style YouTube content exploring provocative subject matter.
How much are tickets to see Lily Phillips live?
Ticket prices vary by venue and show type, but recent listings suggest smaller club or regional theatre shows at around £10–£15 and some larger or London theatre dates around £25–£27. Festival tickets at events like the Edinburgh Fringe typically sit in the low‑to‑mid‑teens bracket, with concessions available for some audiences.
Where can I watch Lily Phillips online?
Clips of Lily’s stand‑up and sketches can be found on channels associated with ITV2’s The Stand Up Sketch Show and Comedy Central’s digital platforms. Her documentary I Slept with 100 Men in One Day and various interviews or podcast appearances are available on YouTube and audio streaming services.
Is Lily Phillips suitable for family audiences?
Lily’s material is generally aimed at adults, with explicit references to sex, bodies and strong language forming a core part of her comedic style. While older teenagers may appreciate her perspective, many shows, particularly late‑night club sets, are best considered 18+.
How can I find Lily Phillips’s upcoming tour dates?
Upcoming dates are usually listed on comedy club websites, festival programmes, ticketing platforms and representation pages that carry her profile. Checking listings sites like Chortle’s tour pages and following venue social feeds provides the most up‑to‑date information.
What makes Lily Phillips different from other comedians?
Lily combines a polished performer’s presence with blunt, feminist subject matter and a willingness to discuss taboo topics in an accessible way. Her background in dance and performance gives her a physicality on stage that complements tightly structured routines and punchlines.
Has Lily Phillips done any brand or campaign work?
Yes, she has fronted campaigns for brands such as Domino’s, North Face, Bumble and Mooncup, using her comedic persona to engage audiences on social media and digital platforms. These collaborations underline her crossover appeal beyond the comedy circuit.
For more UK focused stories and trending news, check these out:
- Latest updates on Stacey Solomon’s TV and personal projects
- Coverage of Freddie Flintoff and his post-cricket ventures
- News and reactions around MAFS UK
- Married at First Sight UK 2024 highlights and cast news
- Features on Tommy Fury and crossover boxing stories
- Updates from Loose Women and its presenters
- Stories on Brooklyn Beckham and celebrity lifestyle
- Breaking national and international headlines
- Official UK government announcements and services
Leave a Reply