# Leo Kearse

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Scottish comedian (born 1976)

Leo Kearse Born Leo Hamilton-Kearse (1976-07-17) 17 July 1976 (age 49) Penpont, Dumfriesshire, Scotland Education Wallace Hall Alma mater University of Stirling

**Leo Kearse** (born **Leo Hamilton-Kearse**, 17 July 1976) is a comedian and broadcaster from [Scotland](/source/Scotland). His stand-up comedy routines have earned him the Scottish Comedian of the Year award and UK Pun Champion. A self-professed right-wing comedian, Kearse regularly appears on [GB News](/source/GB_News).

## Background

Kearse was born on 17 July 1976 and grew up in [Penpont](/source/Penpont) in [Dumfriesshire](/source/Dumfriesshire). He attended [Wallace Hall school](/source/Wallace_Hall_(Thornhill)).[1] After graduating from the [University of Stirling](/source/University_of_Stirling), Kearse worked as a [criminal intelligence](/source/Criminal_intelligence) analyst then as a consultant in [national security](/source/National_security) and government.[2]

## Comedy

Kearse is known for being a right-wing comedian.[3] He covers [anti-woke](/source/Woke) issues, such as [cancel culture](/source/Cancel_culture) and left-wing bias at the [BBC](/source/BBC).[4][5]

He was a *New Comedian Of 2011* finalist at the [Leicester Square Theatre](/source/Leicester_Square_Theatre)[6] and a finalist of the [Laughing Horse](/source/Laughing_Horse) *New Act Of The Year Final 2012*.[7] He then won the *Chelmsford Comedian of the Year* in 2012.[8]

Kearse was crowned the *UK Pun Champion* in 2015 after he beat off competition from fellow comedians Rob Thomas and reigning champion Darren Walsh.[9] Leo won the contest with such jokes as "I was in hospital last week. I asked the nurse if I could do my own stitches. She said 'suture self' and "Growing up on a farm, my dad was always telling me to use the indoor toilet. But I preferred to go against the grain".[10][11]

After being awarded runner-up in 2016, he won the *Scottish Comedian of the Year* award in 2017.[12][13][14]

His breakthrough show *Right Wing Comedian* was cancelled by the [Court Hotel](/source/Court_Hotel) venue at the Perth [Fringe World](/source/Fringe_World) in Australia in 2019 after his material was accused of being [transphobic](/source/Transphobic).[15][16]

### Selected comedy shows

Title Year Notes Leo And Stephen Go Down On You 2012 With Stephen Bailey Am I Right? 2013 The Mangina Funalogs 2014 I Can Make You Tory 2017 Right-Wing Comedian 2018 Transgressive 2019 Cancel Culture 2021

## Politics

Kearse has criticised the [Scottish National Party](/source/Scottish_National_Party), [Scottish independence](/source/Scottish_independence) and the [Scottish Hate Crime Act](/source/Hate_Crime_and_Public_Order_(Scotland)_Act_2021).[17][18][19]

The latter issue led him to become a [Reclaim Party](/source/Reclaim_Party) candidate in the [2021 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2021_Scottish_Parliament_election). Kearse stated that "With wokeness and extreme nationalism seemingly the only acceptable discourses allowed in Scotland these days, I feel now is the right time to stand up and be counted." He stood in [Glasgow Pollok](/source/Glasgow_Pollok_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) held by [Humza Yousaf](/source/Humza_Yousaf) where he received 114 votes (0.3%). He also stood on the [Glasgow regional list](/source/Glasgow_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)) where he received 174 votes (0.1%)[20][21]

## Media

Kearse is a [GB News](/source/GB_News) presenter appearing on the *Headliners* programme and presents his own show *Saturday Night Showdown*.[22] He also appeared as a guest on *[Good Morning Britain](/source/Good_Morning_Britain_(2014_TV_programme))* where he defended the principle of free speech.[23]

He is a co-host of the *3 Speech* podcast with fellow comedians Darius Davies and Nico Yearwood.[24]

Kearse has written opinion pieces for *[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald)*, *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)* and *[The Sun](/source/The_Sun_(United_Kingdom))* newspapers.[25][26]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["From right-on to right-wing: why comedy is turning conservative"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17813698.right-on-right-wing-comedy-turning-conservative/). *HeraldScotland*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["10 comedians on the careers they gave up for stand-up"](https://inews.co.uk/culture/arts/comedians-careers-gave-up-stand-up-81464). *inews.co.uk*. 2017-07-31. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["From Titania McGrath to a Brexit party standup: is rightwing comedy on the rise?"](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/aug/26/edinburgh-rightwing-comedians-titania-mcgrath-brexit-party-edinburgh-fringe). *the Guardian*. 2019-08-26. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Is stand-up comedy too woke and ruining the fun for audiences?"](https://inews.co.uk/culture/arts/edinburgh-fringe-2019-comedy-alt-right-free-speech-322744). *inews.co.uk*. 2019-08-06. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Anderson, Claire (2021-01-11). ["'BBC won't exist in five years!' Broadcaster sent dire warning as public move online"](https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1382574/bbc-news-tv-licence-fee-defund-the-bbc-warning-latest-VN). *Express.co.uk*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["New Comedian of 2011 final"](https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2011/12/12/28597/leicester_square_theatre_new_comedian_of_2011_final). *Chortle*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Laughing Horse New Act of the Year final 2012"](https://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2012/06/05/28768/laughing_horse_new_act_of_the_year_final_2012). *Chortle*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Chelmsford searches for its comedian of the year"](https://www.dunmowbroadcast.co.uk/things-to-do/21705117.chelmsford-searches-comedian-year). Dunmow Broadcast. 13 May 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Leo Kearse"](http://www.leokearse.co.uk/). Leo Kearse. Retrieved 1 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["2015 Pun Champs"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/news/is-it-punny-leo-kearse-wins-uk-pun-championship-2015-with-joke-about-stitches-10044804.html). Independent. Retrieved 24 October 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["You won't be disappunted (sorry) by the joke that won this year's UK Pun Championship"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/news/it-punny-leo-kearse-wins-uk-pun-championship-2015-joke-about-stitches-10044804.html). *The Independent*. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Leo Kearse wins Scottish Comedian of the Year 2017 - The Skinny"](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/comedy/guide/leo-kearse-wins-scottish-comedian-of-the-year-2017). *www.theskinny.co.uk*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Scottish Comedian Of The Year 2017 final"](https://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/l/33867/leo_kearse/review). *Chortle*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Scottish Comedian of the Year 2016"](https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/3390/news-scottish-comedian-year-2016-results). *Beyondthejoke*. Retrieved 2023-09-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["The Court accidentally books comedian who makes jokes about trans people"](https://www.outinperth.com/court-accidentally-books-comedian-makes-jokes-trans-people/). *OUTInPerth | LGBTQIA+ News and Culture*. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Bennett, Steve. ["'I don't understand how it could be interpreted as transphobic' : News 2018 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide"](http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2018/11/19/41730/i_dont_understand_how_it_could_be_interpreted_as_transphobic). *www.chortle.co.uk*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Pritchard-Jones, Exclusive by Oliver (2021-03-01). ["SNP creating 'small-minded' young Scots with 'evil Tories' and anti-English 'propaganda'"](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1404265/snp-news-propaganda-nicola-sturgeon-free-tuition-anti-english-tories). *Express.co.uk*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Scotland's Hate Crime Bill and its threat to comedy - BCG Pro"](https://www.comedy.co.uk/pro/inside_track/scotlands-hate-crime-bill/). *British Comedy Guide*. 2020-07-31. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Pritchard-Jones, Oliver (2021-03-13). ["Scotland's controversial Hate Crime Bill WILL backfire and silence 'woke' advocates"](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1409448/Scotland-news-hate-crime-bill-SNP-Nicola-Sturgeon-comedian-woke-latest). *Express.co.uk*. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Constituencies A-Z: Glasgow Pollok"](https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2021/scotland/constituencies/S16000119). *BBC News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210507101920/https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2021/scotland/constituencies/S16000119) from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** McLaughlin, Martyn (28 March 2021). ["Right wing comedian to stand for Laurence Fox's party at Holyrood election"](https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/right-wing-comedian-to-stand-for-laurence-foxs-party-at-holyrood-election-3181340). Scotsman. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** [https://www.tvguide.co.uk/schedule/94eac305-78c9-5c6b-8607-2c4cf73c3959/saturday-night-showdown-replay](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/schedule/94eac305-78c9-5c6b-8607-2c4cf73c3959/saturday-night-showdown-replay)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** McLoughlin, Bill (28 January 2022). ["Kate Garraway forced to shut down GMB debate after comedian says women in burkas 'do look like letterboxes'"](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/kate-garraway-gmb-debate-comedian-burkas-b979360.html). Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["3 Speech Podcast"](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/3-speech-podcast/id1559534597). *Apple Podcasts*. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Nine reasons I'm voting Tory even though I'm Scottish"](https://inews.co.uk/opinion/nine-reasons-im-voting-tory-even-though-im-scottish-i-can-make-tory-68625). *inews.co.uk*. 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2021-03-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Kearse, Leo (11 March 2019). ["Lounge Check: The Virgin lounge at Perth airport"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/lounge-check-the-virgin-lounge-at-perth-airport/QYBJKXKTL6OJI73NX3C3S2HB5Q/?c_id=7&objectid=12211669). New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2023.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.leokearse.com/)

- [Leo Kearse](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10212849/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Leo Kearse](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/leo_kearse/) at [British Comedy Guide](/source/British_Comedy_Guide)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leo Kearse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Kearse) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Kearse?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.