Available to book
Ian Smith
Comedy
Event Entertainment
Ian Smith delivers quick-witted, warm stand-up and hosting for regional and national events. Twice Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated, he has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, and BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz.
Comedian
Actor
Broadcaster
BBC
Emcee
Event Hosts
Award Hosts
Podcast
Ian Smith is an award-winning comedian, writer, actor, and event host whose observational comedy, quick thinking, and approachable Yorkshire style make him a popular choice for live audiences and corporate events.
Ian is a twice Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee whose television credits include Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, QI, and The Stand Up Sketch Show. He creates comedy for BBC Radio 4, guest-hosted The News Quiz, co-hosts the Northern News podcast with Amy Gledhill, and writes for programmes including Have I Got News For You and Mock the Week.
Ian's stand-up has been recognised twice by the Edinburgh Comedy Award panel: for his 2023 show Crushing, which transferred to the Soho Theatre and toured the UK, and his 2025 show Foot Spa Half Empty, which sold out its entire run. He has also performed at the New Zealand Comedy Festival and appeared twice on the New Zealand Comedy Gala.
Years of performing across theatres, festivals, television, radio, and live events have given Ian an instinct for reading a room and connecting with varied audiences. His experience as both a performer and writer allows him to combine fast improvisation with carefully crafted material, while his work across comedy, broadcasting, and hosting helps audiences see familiar challenges from fresh perspectives through humour that feels intelligent, relatable, and grounded.
Book Ian for proven, broadcast-tested comedy and confident, quick-witted hosting.
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frequently asked questions
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Email ian.smith@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Ian's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Ian Smith draws on observational comedy rooted in everyday experience, combining carefully crafted stand-up material with fast improvisation to suit the room. His live format has been tested across theatre runs, festival stages, and broadcast television, giving corporate and event audiences a polished set that balances wit with accessibility.
Ian Smith performs stand-up, after-dinner comedy, and live event hosting, suited to corporate events, festivals, and theatre audiences. He is a twice Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee whose television credits include Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, and QI.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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