Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department is giving to the live comedy industry.

The government recognises the important contribution live comedy makes to the UK’s economy and creative sectors.

In March, I hosted the first comedy sector roundtable, in which we discussed a number of ways to boost the sector, including strengthening the evidence of comedy's economic and social impact, and improving the sector's understanding of funding opportunities.

The government is also providing a £7 million grant to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for 2024-26, and is taking action to support self-employed creatives, including appointing a Freelance Champion. Arts Council England already provides support to the comedy sector, which will also benefit from reforms as part of the Independent Review of Arts Council England, including improving the experience of funding applicants and exploring new support for individual creatives.