Leicester Comedy Festival, one of the UK’s most prestigious comedy events, has left over 500 performers unpaid weeks after its conclusion, with organisers blaming cashflow delays for the shortfall.

The festival, which drew 100,000 spectators and featured high-profile names including Sir Stephen Fry and Sara Pascoe, ran from February 4 to 22 but failed to settle invoices on the originally scheduled date of April 19. Instead, performers received an email notifying them of a further delay, leaving many out of pocket as they navigated the financial aftermath of their appearances.

Ben Alborough, a full-time comedian who has performed at the festival since his student days, described the situation as "frustrating." He is owed nearly £2,000 and highlighted the broader financial strain on performers, who often front registration, travel, and accommodation costs upfront. "Artists need to be paid. We’re not asking for charity—we’re asking for fairness," he said.

Zoe Brownstone, a Canadian comedian, praised the festival’s organisation and ticket sales but expressed shock at the payment delay. "I’ve never felt so positive leaving a festival," she said. "It’s astonishing that a major event can’t close the loop on payments."

Rachael Johnson, who hosted two events in Lutterworth, said she had covered all her expenses—including payments to acts and staff—but was still waiting for money from ticket sales. "We’re out of pocket, and the relentless bills don’t wait," she said. "I understand the pressures on organisers, but this is worse than Covid for many in the sector."

Michael Harris-Wakelam, CEO of Big Difference, the non-profit behind the festival, acknowledged the delay but insisted organisers were prioritising payments. "This is a cashflow problem, not a refusal to pay," he said. "We’re exploring bridging loans to settle debts faster, but bridging finance takes time."

Harris-Wakelam called for broader support for the comedy industry, including business rate relief and VAT cuts on tickets, arguing that comedy lacks the national funding incentives available to other live arts. "If comedy were treated with more seriousness at a national level, we wouldn’t be in this position," he said.

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Jessica Toomey, chair of the Live Comedy Association, criticised the disparity in support for grassroots comedy compared to other live arts. "Without investment, the UK risks losing its global reputation for live comedy," she said. Ian Manborde, Midlands representative for Equity, added: "We’ve received assurances from the festival that all performers will be paid in full."

The festival, now in its 30th year, has faced similar payment issues in the past, but this year’s scale and the involvement of high-profile acts have amplified scrutiny. Harris-Wakelam admitted the delay was "to the detriment of other planned activities," as the organisation redirects funds to settle outstanding debts.