{{Short description|British comedian}} {{About|the comedian|the sniper|Danny Nightingale (soldier)|the athlete|Danny Nightingale (pentathlete)}} {{Use British English|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} '''Dan Nightingale''' (born 15 March 1981) in Switzerland is an English stand-up comedian and podcaster from Penwortham in Preston, Lancashire.<ref> He was educated at Hutton Grammar School, a comprehensive since 1978. His father is Peter Nightingale, a tunnelling engineer and his mother, Norma, a teacher who died of cancer when he was sixteen was a governor at Nightingale's school. Nightingale often refers to his family in his routines. His paternal grandparents were Bob and Rita and it is the latter he sometimes uses as a source of affectionate raillery. His grandfather, Bob, was a salesman who lived to the age of 97 and was still playing golf at Penwortham golf club in his last years. {{Cite web |last=McHale |first=Kirsty |date=2015-09-06|title=Liverpool Comedy Festival 2015: Who is Dan Nightingale?|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-news/liverpool-comedy-festival-2015-who-9994162 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Nightingale |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/d/33195/dan_nightingale/tour |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Nightingale has been a professional comic since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-18|title='I'm back for a Preston wife' |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/im-back-for-a-preston-wife-2672205 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Nightingale |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/d/33195/dan_nightingale/tour |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> He performed his first UK and Ireland tour in 2022 titled Smasher,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Nightingale: Smasher - 2022 Full Special |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfNNjpen12o |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.youtube.com | date=25 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and subsequently released the show onto YouTube. Nightingale went on his second tour, in 2023 which was titled 'Dan Nightingale's Special' and released the video version on YouTube in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Nightingale's Special - 2023 Full Special |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9BN-kfmhMI |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=www.youtube.com | date=17 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Nightingale's Special |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/tour/d/33159/_dan_nightingales_special |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
Nightingale's first appearance on national television was on ''John Bishop's Only Joking'', on Sky 1 in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Bishop's Only Joking |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/john_bishop_only_joking/episodes/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.comedy.co.uk/ |language=en}}</ref>
In 2013 Nightingale was voted Preston's the 'Entertainer of the Year'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-01-19|title=Stand-up, sit down, specs on with Dan Nightingale |url=https://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/stand-up-sit-down-specs-on-with-dan-nightingale-2663537 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Lancashire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref>
Dan Nightingale has also appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival multiple times. His debut was in 2005 where he appeared with Josie Long in a show titled 'Audience with Josie Long and Dan Nightingale'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daoust |first=Phil |date=2005-08-09|title=Josie Long and Dan Nightingale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/aug/09/comedy.edinburghfestival2005 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.theguardian.com |language=en}}</ref> Nightingale's second show, in 2008 was named 'Geronimo' where he was noted for his budding 'star quality'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Julian |date=2008-08-21|title=Dan Nightingale: Geronimo, Underbelly, Edinburgh |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/reviews/dan-nightingale-geronimo-underbelly-edinburgh-903944.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.independent.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Nightingale returned to the fringe festival in 2012 with 'The Eleven and a Half Ill Conceived Edinburgh Shows of Dan Nightingale'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Khristine |date=2012-08-07|title=Dan Nightingale - The Eleven and a Half Ill Conceived Edinburgh Shows of Dan Nightingale |url=https://threeweeksedinburgh.com/article/ed2012-comedy-review-dan-nightingale-the-eleven-and-a-half-ill-conceived-edinburgh-shows-of-dan-nightingale/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.threeweeksedinburgh.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2013 Nightingale's show was titled 'Love in the time of Cholesterol' and his performances were described as 'comforting'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cockburn |first=Paul |date=2013-08-02|title=Dan Nightingale - Love in the time of Cholesterol |url=https://www.broadwaybaby.com/shows/dan-nightingale-love-in-the-time-of-cholesterol/28836 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.broadwaybaby.com |language=en}}</ref> In his fifth year attending the Edinburgh Fringe Nightingale performed the show 'Dan Nightingale is Trying His Best Not to Be a Dick'. Chortle described this show as 'outrageously funny'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Jay |date=2014-08-16|title=Dan Nightingale is Trying His Best Not to Be a Dick |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2014/08/16/29716/dan_nightingale_is_trying_his_best_not_to_be_a_dick |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> His most recent show was 'Sex, Drugs and My Nanna's Bungalow' in 2018 which garnered positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleckney |first=Paul |date=2018-08-14|title=Dan Nightingale: Sex, Drugs And My Nanna's Bungalow |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2018/08/14/40855/dan_nightingale%3A_sex%2C_drugs_and_my_nanna%E2%80%99s_bungalow%2C |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
'''Have a Word Podcast'''
Nightingale founded the ''Have a Word'' podcast with fellow comedian Adam Rowe and producer Sensei Carl in 2020. In 2021, Rowe and Nightingale, under the umbrella of Have a Word, released the song "Laura's Gone" in a bid to reach Christmas number 1 and raise money for Zoe's Place Baby Hospice and the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guide |first=British Comedy |date=2021-12-02 |title=Adam Rowe and Dan Nightingale release Christmas single for charity |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/news/6634/adam-rowe-dan-nightingale-lauras-gone-have-a-word-single/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=British Comedy Guide |language=en}}</ref> The song reached number 39 in the Official Charts Company midweek chart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Kunt at No5 in the midweek charts : News 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/12/20/49886/kunt_at_no5_in_the_midweek_charts |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
In 2022, ''Have a Word'' won the Best Podcast at the Chortle Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title='As good as it got, on and off stage' |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2022/03/30/50453/chortle-award-winners-for-2022-revealed |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, it was nominated for the Best Comedy Podcast at the National Comedy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hepburn |first=David |date=2023-02-14|title=National Comedy Awards 2023: Here's when you can catch 10 comedians shortlisted for the British comedy Oscars in Scotland - from Fern Brady to Ricky Gervais |url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/national-comedy-awards-2023-heres-when-you-can-catch-10-comedians-shortlisted-for-the-british-comedy-oscars-in-scotland-from-fern-brady-to-ricky-gervais-4027172 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Comedy Awards 2023 shortlists revealed |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2023/01/23/52401/national_comedy_awards_2023_shortlists_revealed |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
{{As of|2025|01|11}}, ''Have a Word'' is the 15th most subscribed to page on Patreon and are ranked 3rd for video content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Have a Word Pod - Last 30 Days |url= https://graphtreon.com/creator/haveawordpod |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Graphtreon |language=en}}</ref>
== Awards == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Category !Award !Result |- |2009 |Chortle Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-02-05|title=5,500 vote in Chortle awards |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2009/02/05/8239/minchin_leads_chortle_nominations |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.chortle.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Compere |{{Nominated}} |- |2015 |Comics' Comic Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015|title=Dan Nightingale - Awards |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/dan_nightingale/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best MC |{{Won}} |- |2018 |Chortle Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-19|title=Chortle Awards 2018 results|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/3013/chortle_awards_2018_winners/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Compere |{{Nominated}} |- | rowspan="2" |2019 |North West Comedy Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-07|title=North West Comedy Awards 2019 winners|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/news/5197/north_west_comedy_awards_2019/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Act |{{Won}} |- |Chortle Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-18|title=Chortle Awards 2019 results |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/5246/chortle_awards_2019_results/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Compere |{{Nominated}} |- | rowspan="4" |2020 | rowspan="3" |North West Comedy Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09|title=North West Comedy Awards 2020 results |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/news/5593/north_west_comedy_awards_2020/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dessau |first=Bruce|date=2020-01-09|title=News: North West Comedy Awards – Full Results|url=https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/8199/comedy-awards-results |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.beyondthejoke.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Act |{{Won}} |- |Best Compere |{{Won}} |- |Best Podcast (Hack Radio) |{{Nominated}} |- |Chortle Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-18|title=Chortle Awards 2020 winners |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/5714/chortle_awards_2020_winners/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Compere |{{Nominated}} |- | rowspan="4" |2022 | rowspan="3" |North West Comedy Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19|title=Jason Manford wins two prizes at North West Comedy Awards |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/news/6679/north-west-comedy-awards-2022/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.comedy.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Act |{{Won}} |- |Social Media Award (Have a Word) |{{Won}} |- |Best Podcast (Have a Word) |{{Won}} |- |Chortle Awards<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-03-30|title='As good as it got, on and off stage' : News 2022 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2022/03/30/50453/chortle-award-winners-for-2022-revealed|access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.chortle.co.uk}}</ref> |Best Podcast (Have a Word) |{{Won}} |- |2023 |National Comedy Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-17|title=Winners crowned at The National Comedy Awards for Stand Up To Cancer |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/winners-crowned-national-comedy-awards-stand-cancer |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.channel4.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-18|title=Everything that happened at the National Comedy Awards 2023 |url=https://virginradio.co.uk/entertainment/95781/everything-that-happened-at-the-national-comedy-awards-2023 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=www.virginradio.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> |Best Comedy Podcast (Have a Word) |{{Nominated}} |}
==Personal life== Nightingale's mother died when he was 16.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-12 |title=Comedy Festival 2013: Dan Nightingale |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/comedy-festival-2013-dan-nightingale/3S753DZXAJUU43GBQM2SYQZ324/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=NZ Herald |language=en}}</ref>
Nightingale started a degree in Politics at Newcastle University but dropped out to pursue a career in comedy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-08-12|title=Dan's the man |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/comedy-gigs/dans-the-man-1158841 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref>
== References == <references /> ==External links== *[http://www.dannightingale.com www.dannightingale.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nightingale, Dan}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:English stand-up comedians Category:21st-century English comedians Category:English male comedians Category:English podcasters Category:Entertainers from Preston, Lancashire Category:Alumni of Newcastle University