Joe Lycett, James Acaster, and Sara Pascoe Come To Eventim Apollo For CLASH OF THE COMICS

The grandest spectacle in the comedy universe, Clash of the Comics, is coming to the Eventim Apollo on 8th October 2025, all in aid of Comic Relief. This one-of-a-kind showdown sees some of the UK's biggest comedy stars step into the wrestling ring – not just to tell jokes, but to fight. Past events have seen Nish Kumar crashing through a table, Rosie Jones stunning fans by defeating Greg Davies, and Richard Gadd somersaulting into the ring to compete in a full-blown ladder match.

In a night where comedy heavyweights clash with each other and some of the UK's top professional wrestlers, expect chaos, carnage, and a collision of punchlines and piledrivers in this unmissable live showdown.

Comedian James Acaster, who has a years-long track record of attempting to wrestle and never delivering a single offensive manoeuvre, today throws down the gauntlet, vowing to put an end to “years of humiliation” and issuing the James Acaster Open Challenge. In a powerful video, Acaster has vowed to take “on absolutely anyone in the world of comedy or wrestling”, and vowing to make “the greatest entrance you've ever seen”.

In a shock turn of events, beloved Birmingham comedian Joe Lycett has sensationally bought Clash of the Comics, becoming CEO! “I was enjoying a crisp Riesling on a summer's eve, and awoke the next day to discover that I had purchased, amongst other things (condoms, eggs, etc), the world's leading comedy-and-wrestling promotion,” says Lycett. “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.” Lycett will be there on the night, and what he says goes… until he changes his mind.

Rose Matafeo - formerly a commentator cheering on the rulebreakers - will be stepping into the ring and wrestling, as the heroic Rose Mata-slay-o. “After a walk on the dark side, I have since seen the light,” says Matafeo. “I now fight to rid the world of evil through low impact wrestling and high impact attitude.” Kiell Smith-Bynoe is also to debut as The King of Barbados, announcing “I'm the man of steel (drums), and much like the drums, my opponent is going to get beat. Potentially tunefully, if I can work out how.”

They are joining an already stacked card: comedian and YouTube superstar Max Fosh will be debuting as Max ‘The Dosh' Fosh - “the perfect combo of old money and new media”, and Maisie Adam, aka ‘The Queen of The North (Based in Brighton)' will be stepping into the ring for the first time, promising an intimidating combination of Yorkshire grit and South Coast whimsy.

Commentary duties will be handled by Greg James and Nish Kumar - now joined by the formidable Sara Pascoe, who'll be cheering on the babyfaces in their fight for all that is good. Says Pascoe; “Super thrilled to be cheering on these terrific wrestlers and coming head to head with everyone's favourite enemy, Nish Kumar.”

Already announced are: champion Phil ‘Kill' Wang, his nemesis Ed ‘The Gambler' Gamble, Rosie ‘Daddy' Jones, Max & Ivan, ‘The RIngfluencer' Abi Clarke, Olga ‘Rock Hard' Koch, Matthew ‘The Pacifist' Crosby, Jazz Emu, and Flo & Joan -