Born and brought up near Ranmoor, Michael Palin was one of the stars of Monty Python's Flying Circus, making him one of the most famous comedians ever,. He was in the famous 'Parrot sketch' - perhaps the most famous comedy sketch ever.placeholder image
Born and brought up near Ranmoor, Michael Palin was one of the stars of Monty Python's Flying Circus, making him one of the most famous comedians ever,. He was in the famous 'Parrot sketch' - perhaps the most famous comedy sketch ever.

Sheffield Comedy: The funniest 14 South Yorkshire comedians ever, including Michael Palin and Chuckle Brothers

David Kessen
By David Kessen

Senior reporter

Published 21st Mar 2023, 06:20 GMT

Yorkshire’s famous for its humour – and nowhere more than Sheffield and South Yorkshire

Over the years, the city has been home to some of the most hilarous comedians the world has ever seen, and if you look into the wider South Yorkshire area, the comedy heritage spills out into Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster too.

While we all know about Michael Palin, whose work with Monty Python made him globally famous, and the Chuckle Brothers, who had generations of children rolling around laughing through Chucklevision, there are many others born here, brought up here, or with other close links the the city, and we also have a great tradition of comedy clubs.

We’ve put together a gallery of who we believe may be the 14 best and most famous comedians linked to Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

Best known as Dick out of Dick and Dom, former Tapton School pupil Richard McCourt is one half of the children's TV double act which gave the world Dick and Dom in da Bungalow on CBBC and BBC One, from 2002 to 2006, as well as The Legend of Dick and Dom, Diddy TV and Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom.

9. Richard McCourt

Best known as Dick out of Dick and Dom, former Tapton School pupil Richard McCourt is one half of the children's TV double act which gave the world Dick and Dom in da Bungalow on CBBC and BBC One, from 2002 to 2006, as well as The Legend of Dick and Dom, Diddy TV and Absolute Genius with Dick and Dom. Photo: Neil Cross

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Born George Speight in Rotherham, Former miner Paul Shane became a massive comedy star in the 1980s as Ted Bovis, one of the main characters in the 50s holiday camp themed sitcom Hi de Hi. He died in 2013, aged 72.

10. Paul Shane.

Born George Speight in Rotherham, Former miner Paul Shane became a massive comedy star in the 1980s as Ted Bovis, one of the main characters in the 50s holiday camp themed sitcom Hi de Hi. He died in 2013, aged 72. Photo: Michael Waistell

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From Rotherham. Tony Capstick was a Radio Sheffield presenter for years, but also worked as a comedian, with the show Capstick's Capers, on Channel 4 in 1983, and a top three hit with the comedy record Capstick Comes Home, in 1981. He also played a policeman in the long running Sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.

11. Tony Capstick

From Rotherham. Tony Capstick was a Radio Sheffield presenter for years, but also worked as a comedian, with the show Capstick's Capers, on Channel 4 in 1983, and a top three hit with the comedy record Capstick Comes Home, in 1981. He also played a policeman in the long running Sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd

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Duggie Brown, born Rotherham, was another who starred on The Comedians, and went on to appear in a number of Sitcoms as a comedy actor. He died aged 82 in 2022.

12. Duggie Brown

Duggie Brown, born Rotherham, was another who starred on The Comedians, and went on to appear in a number of Sitcoms as a comedy actor. He died aged 82 in 2022. Photo: Chris Lawton

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