Just For Laughs LONDON
ENTERTAINMENT CONGLOMERATES,
JUST FOR LAUGHS, AEG PRESENTS AND THE O2
REVEAL A NEW COLLABORATION BY LAUNCHING
JUST FOR LAUGHS LONDON
TAKING OVER LONDON’S THE O2
MARCH 2-5, 2023
LONDON/ MONTREAL, January 20, 2022 - Just For Laughs, the largest and most widely-respected comedy festival in the world, is excited to announce a collaboration with AEG Presents, the leading sports and live entertainment company, and The O2, the world’s most popular music, leisure and entertainment venue. Together, the trio will be launching a new annual comedy festival, Just For Laughs LONDON, with the first edition scheduled to take place at The O2 in North Greenwich, London from March 2-5 2023.
Just For Laughs is expanding their international festival footprint by creating a brand-new comedy festival curated for comedy fans in the UK, made possible by collaborating with AEG Presents and The O2. The O2 has been visited by over 100 million people since opening in 2007 and hosts over 200 live events per year spanning music, sport, and comedy. In 2020, it was named Billboard’s Venue of The Decade. Just For Laughs LONDON will surely be one of 2023’s hottest tickets.
Just For Laughs LONDON will be a four-day pass-based festival, and feature the company’s signature premium comedy programming. Must-attend events will include solo shows, live podcast recordings, in conversations, and cast panels; from both UK-based artists, as well as international stars.
Since the festival’s inception, Just For Laughs has fostered a deep relationship with Britain’s incredible pool of talented comedians. At the time, many British rising stars came to JFL to further their careers including the likes of John Oliver, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, Eddie Izzard, Gina Yashere and Sarah Millican; while some of the country’s legends such as Stephen Fry, John Cleese, Lenny Henry and Rowan Atkinson, who launched “Mr. Bean” at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, make up some of JFL’s proudest accomplishments. Working with the vast repertoire of UK comedians who have appeared at the festival has become an integral part of the company’s DNA.
Over the last 40 years, the unique and edgy style of British humour has become synonymous with what JFL is known for. They introduced prime-time TV audiences to these rising British comedy stars on Channel 4, BBC, Channel 5 and to global audiences. Now, with the launch of this new festival, JFL and AEG will be providing Britain’s best acts with a JFL stage in their hometown, as well as the opportunity for international comedians to gain exposure from what will surely become the UK’s biggest comedy festival.
“We couldn’t be happier to be producing a Just For Laughs festival in the UK, celebrating the contribution and influence British comedy has had on JFL as well as the industry as a whole,” shares Bruce Hills, President of Just For Laughs. “With British comedy being a fundamental touchstone of our company for the last four decades, we are so excited to work with AEG Presents and The O2, and deliver our UK fans an irreplicable first-class JFL experience at a world class London venue”.
“Just For Laughs has produced many successful superior comedy festivals and tours in cities across the globe, and we are now beyond excited to plant some roots by adding a new comedy festival in one of the world’s most notorious comedy cities, London, England”, adds Charles Décarie, President and CEO of Just For Laughs Group. “We believe that expanding our festival’s international reach is part of the organization’s natural evolution, and we are looking forward to being in the UK next year at London’s The O2.”
“We are delighted to be working with such a well-respected and talented company as Just For Laughs, and look forward to presenting an amazing festival at The O2 next year,” said Steve Homer, CEO of AEG Presents UK.
Emma Bownes, VP of Venue Programming at The O2 added, “The O2 is thrilled to be partnering with both JFL and AEG Presents on Just For Laughs LONDON in March 2023. Just for Laughs are world leaders in comedy programming, and we can’t wait to host the very best UK and global stars, alongside podcast recordings, table reads and breakout comics across multiple stages under our roof. We look forward to Just For Laughs LONDON returning to The O2 for years to come.”
Details regarding programming and where to purchase passes and individual show tickets to Just For Laughs LONDON will become available in the coming months.
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ABOUT JUST FOR LAUGHS GROUP
Founded in 1983, the Just for Laughs Group is the most important player in the global comedy industry co-owned by Groupe CH, Bell Media and ICM Partners. The company is an international powerhouse in the creation of multi-platform comedy content. Every year, it entertains millions of spectators with its festivals on Canadian and international stages, in Montréal – the biggest comedy event in the world – as well as in Toronto, Vancouver; Austin, U.S.A. and Sydney, Australia. The Group organizes shows featuring thousands of comics from Canada and other countries, including established artists as well as up-and-comers; stages its own comedy shows and musicals; produces touring shows; broadcasts digital and televised content (notably Gags, which is shown in 150 countries and followed by an online audience of ten million on YouTube); manages talented artists; and is the originator of the ComedyPRO and JPR Pro industry conferences. www.hahaha.com
ABOUT AEG PRESENTS
AEG Presents is AEG's live-entertainment division, a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. AEG Presents is behind festivals such as California’s famed Coachella, Los Angeles’ Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, London’s BST Hyde Park and All Points East, Paris’ Rock en Seine and a myriad of tours, live shows and venues around the world including the world’s most popular venue The O2 in London, LA’s Staples Center and many more.
For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegpresents.com
AEG’s European headquarters are located in London.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @AEG_Presents
ABOUT THE O2
The O2 is the world’s most popular music, entertainment and leisure venue and has been visited by over 100 million people since opening in 2007. Playing host to over 400 events a year, The O2 is home to The O2 arena which is globally recognised as one of the world’s most iconic venues to play, and club sized music venue indigo at The O2.
A full day-out destination, there’s plenty to explore at The O2 including Up at The O2, a climbing experience across the world famous roof; Icon Outlet, one of London’s most exciting retail destinations with up to 70% off 60 superstar brands; TOCA Social – an interactive football experience; BOOM BATTLE BAR – a gaming battleground featuring Axe Throwing, Shuffleboard, Digital Darts and more; Cineworld, London’s largest cinema with 19 screens; the 12-lane boutique Hollywood Bowl; Oxygen Freejumping trampoline park; immersive dining experience Mamma Mia! The Party; interactive photo experiences Selfie Factory and Tikky Town, and over 30 bars and restaurants.
Located just 15 minutes from Central London, The O2 is easily accessible via road, tube, bus or Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
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#JFLLONDON2023
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Just For Laughs Press Contact:
C2C Communications, Charlene Coy
[email protected]
The O2 Press Contact:
The O2
[email protected]