Clash Of The Comics: Get ready for a legendary night of wild and wacky wrestling entertainment

The Hammersmith Apollo is a venue of legends. Musical greats including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Kate Bush, Public Enemy, Led Zeppelin, Kylie, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday and James Brown have graced its stage, not to mention the biggest names in comedy over many decades. But now it’s the scene of the most legendary show of them all. Welcome to Clash Of The Comics.

It’s wrestling, but with comedians. Yes, you read that right – some of the country’s funniest people are swapping chuckles for clotheslines and punchlines for powerbombs, while wearing eye-popping costumes involving unreasonable amounts of spandex.

Clash Of The Comics is the brainchild of Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzalez, a comedy double act who dabble in wrestling and first staged this event (then known simply as “The Wrestling”) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2011. Since then it has sold out shows at Edinburgh, Just For Laughs London and even the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, won awards and, now, nabbed a slot at one of the UK’s most prestigious theatres.

And you can see the brilliant action from this night of outrageous entertainment, streaming on Apps > U on Friday 28 November and then coming to U&Dave HD (CH 127) at 9pm on Friday 5 December.

Kicking off the night is brilliant stand-up and newly crowned Taskmaster champion Maisie Adam, aka the “Queen of the North”, who’s taking on pro wrestler Nina Samuels. Then it’s a man who defies nickname conventions, James Acaster, who is throwing down a challenge to anyone who fancies taking him on.

Next comes an epic tag-team bout featuring nine duos, including Max and Ivan themselves, Sarah “Lil Keys” Keyworth, Taskmaster star Ania “Slam Ya” Magliano, Rishi “Prince of Mumbai” Ghosh, Single Ladies podcasters Harriet Kemsley and Amy Gledhill and lots more figures from both comedy and wrestling. Then it’s the main event, as champion Phil “Kill” Wang takes on his long-standing and bitter rival Ed “The Gambler” Gamble.

Ivo Graham is your MC, with on-stage commentary from Nish Kumar, Sara Pascoe and Greg James and music by Jazz Emu, Flo & Joan and Jordan Gray. There are also appearances from Rosie Jones, Matthew Crosbie, Olga Koch, Adam Kay and Rose Matafeo – will any of them get in the ring? – as well as Joe Lycett as the flamboyant CEO of Clash Of The Comics, a powerful Svengali figure who rules the ring with an insouciant attitude and a gorgeous orange outfit.

A heck of a line-up, we think you’ll agree.

As any wrestling fan will tell you, reality is relative. It’s not about sporting competition, it’s about the storylines, the characters, the theatre of it all, and the sheer wild entertainment on offer. The cast of Clash Of The Comics certainly know how to provide that. Having said that, Max and Ivan are experienced wrestlers who know their way around some spectacular manoeuvres, and the pro wrestlers involved (including Samuels, Bullit, Adam Maxted, Simon Miller, Big Damo and the mysterious Cyclonica) perform plenty of awe-inspiring suplexes and slams.

And it’s impressive how committed the comedians are, especially Phil Wang and Ed Gamble, who are clearly determined to deliver headline entertainment in their headline slot. Gamble plays the role of heel with relish, soaking up the audience’s boos and abuse, while the moustachioed Wang struts around the ring like a true champion – and they both show off some exhilarating moves.

Keep scrolling for more about the comics taking part in Clash Of The Comics and their soon-to-be-legendary wrestling careers…

Also known as the Wangbanger, with the catchphrase “Wang! And the dirt is gone”, Wang claimed the championship belt in a mass brawl at Just For Laughs in 2023 with a memorable comeback after being slammed into a ringside table and stretchered off. His trademark ultra-tight yellow jumpsuit, previously seen on Taskmaster, is inspired by Bruce Lee and we can see the influence of the martial arts master in Wang’s moves. And that’s not all we can see.

Booo! He may be a much-admired stand-up and prolific podcaster but once Gamble slips into his wrestling persona, his villainy comes to the fore. He even added extra spice to his championship duel by taking Wang’s championship belt at an event earlier in the year. To be clear, Gamble didn’t win the belt – he just stole it and ran away. Like a coward. Boooooo!!

She’s the howl of the wind over Ilkley Moor! She’s the millstone grit of the Pennines! She’s the iron spine of Middlesbrough’s docks! And she’s got a great big shaggy cloak! But can this chaotic comic bring the discipline required to see off Nina “Comedian Slayer” Samuels? She’s got some experience, having participated in Mexican wrestling training on one of A League Of Their Own’s road trips. And Taskmaster fans know she’s super-competitive…

In the summer, Acaster issued a challenge to the world at large, saying he would take on “absolutely anyone in the world of comedy or wrestling” and also vowing to make “the greatest entrance you’ve ever seen”. Bold words from a man who has taken part in comedy wrestling events five times and lost five times. But he’s evidently determined to end his years of humiliation – no matter the opponent. Has the Off Menu podcast host bitten off more than he can chew?

The Boss is always a key figure in the world of sports-adjacent entertainment, entering the arena like an emperor when they feel results aren’t going the way they want, and Lycett is no exception. Ahead of the event, he declared: “I take my newfound role of CEO incredibly seriously – the world of Clash Of The Comics is about to discover that with great power comes great irresponsibility.” He wields his authority like a hammer of justice, and woe betide anyone who crosses him. Or keeps him from his wine.