Multi-award-winning comedian Ian Smith, known for his appearances on BBC Radio 4’s “The News Quiz” and “The Now Show,” is set to bring his critically acclaimed and Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated show to The Leadmill in Sheffield. Titled “(ISH),” the show delves into the themes of stress, love, and a peculiar adventure involving driving a tank in Slovakia with his hairdresser. With humor and relatability, Ian explores his perpetual state of stress, offering insights, anecdotes, and hilariously unforgettable tales. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch Ian Smith, a prominent figure in the comedy world, live on stage.
Ian is always stressed about something – and now he’s getting told off by his jobsworth dentist for grinding his teeth in his sleep, which is stressing him out even more. Some advice to help includes hypnotism, pre-bedtime motivational messages spoken into the mirror and, hardest of all, to just stop being anxious – but is that even possible? Not, it seems, for Ian.
Join Ian for an hour where he explains why he’s stressed and what he can and can’t do about it – and why that led to him a sensory deprivation floatation tank and travelling to Slovakia and driving a tank over a car with his hairdresser. Come and see the critically acclaimed, multi-award nominated, sell-out Fringe show from Goole’s only comedian.
Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee 2023
(ISH) Edinburgh Comedy Award Shortlist 2023
Next Up’s Biggest Award in Comedy Runner-up 2023
‘His tales are relatable, plentiful and downright hilarious.’
★★★★★ Edinburgh Festivals
As a stand-up, Ian’s seven Edinburgh Fringe shows have received critical acclaim, awards and runs at Soho Theatre and New Zealand Comedy Festival. In 2015, he was also part of the hugely successful Richard Gadd – Waiting for Gaddot. He has been invited to perform as part of Mary Tobin’s Best of the Edinburgh Fest shows at Adelaide and Melbourne Comedy Festivals and in 2020 he was also nominated for two Chortle Awards, including Best Compere.
Ian has become a regular guest on The News Quiz and The Now Show and made his debut on Just A Minute in August (BBC Radio 4).
He is the co-host of the Northern News podcast with Amy Gledhill, produced by Plosive (Off Menu) – featured in the Guardian’s “best podcasts of the 2023 so far”.
Last year, Ian directed Amy’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominated debut show, The Girl Before The Girl You Marry.
Ian has also had a number of acting roles – starting off as a lead in BBC2 sitcom Popatron. He’s also starred alongside Katherine Parkinson in Sky pilot Officially Special and had a leading role in BBC1 drama, The Ark, starring David Threlfall – as well as a various supporting roles including The Emily Atack Show, Siblings, Pls Like and BBC drama The Syndicate.
In 2020, he recorded his first solo Radio 4 show, the comedy-doc Girl Stuck in Basketball Hoop. He has a Radio 4 stand-up series about stress commissioned for 2024.
More praise for ‘Crushing’:
‘If it’s excellent, pure stand-up performed by a comedian at the top of their game, this is the show for you.’
★★★★★ Quintessential Reviews
‘Ian Smith is such a great storyteller…our chuckles just keep coming.’
★★★★★ One4Review
‘Sheer brilliance.’
★★★★.5 Chortle
‘A brilliant hour.’
★★★★.5 RGM
‘He’s one of our most consistent comedians, and Ian Smith has, ahem, *crushed* it at this year’s Fringe.’
★★★★ Fest
‘And with this latest catalogue of calamities he has excelled himself.’
★★★★ Beyond the Joke
★★★★ EdFringeReview
★★★★ The Scotsman
★★★★ Phoenix Remix
★★★★ The Comic’s Comic
★★★★ Mumble Comedy
British Comedy Guide: Recommended
Previous reviews:
‘One of the best you will see at the festival.’ ★★★★★ The Mirror
‘A highly enjoyable show, not to be missed.’ ★★★★★ Three Weeks
‘An effortlessly brilliant stand-up show.’ ★★★★ The Scotsman
‘A riot of sprightly silliness.’ ★★★★ Chortle
‘An hour of controlled madness, intelligent and laugh out loud funny.’ ★★★★ The Skinny
‘A show that is sure to leave you with jokes to quote for months.’ ★★★★ National Student
‘Catch him now before his inevitable jump to the big time.’ The Telegraph
‘A very funny man indeed.’ TimeOut
‘Proper star quality.’ The Guardian
Double Chortle Award Nominee 2019
British Comedy Guide Recommended 2018 & 2019
Amused Moose Comedy Award Winner 2017
Three Weeks Editors’ Award Winner 2017
