Comedian - Jin Hao Li - Comedy in Your Eye

Comedian - Jin Hao Li - Comedy: The Surreal and Singular Voice of a New Generation

Jin Hao Li is a comedian whose style is as unique as his background. Made in China and marinated in Singapore, this London-based writer and performer has captivated the UK comedy scene with a blend of "dry wit, gritty softness, and surreal energy". His comedy is a dizzying, dreamlike experience that has earned him a nomination for one of the most prestigious awards in the industry and marked him as a truly singular new voice.

Background and Comedic Style

Jin Hao Li’s journey to the London stage is a global one. Born in China and raised in Singapore, where he completed mandatory military service, he later moved to Scotland to study Film at St Andrews University. It was there that he began to hone his craft as part of the university's comedy revue.

His performance style has been described as a combination of surrealism and a "quietly commanding" delivery. Fellow comedian Raul Kohli aptly summed it up as, "If Noel Fielding met Stewart Lee and was East Asian".

The Guardian noted the way his shows combine "dreams with reality," creating a "dizzying trip to the deep underwater unknown". This blend of the soothing and the unsettling, the lyrical and the child-like, makes his comedy an unforgettable experience.

An Award-Winning Debut

Jin Hao Li burst onto the scene with a string of impressive competition results, reaching the finals of the Chortle Student Comedy Award in 2022 and the BBC New Comedy Awards in 2023. In 2023, he was also selected for the prestigious

Pleasance Comedy Reserve at the Edinburgh Fringe, a showcase renowned for highlighting the best new talent.

However, it was his debut solo hour in 2024 that truly announced his arrival. His show, Swimming in a Submarine, was a sell-out smash at the Edinburgh Fringe, earning rave reviews and a nomination for the coveted Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer.

Rolling Stone called the show "nothing short of a revelation," while The Skinny awarded it a perfect five-star rating, praising its nonsensical tale as "perfectly constructed… Not a single word is wasted, nor a punchline missed". Following its Fringe success, the show transferred to London's Soho Theatre for a three-week run before heading to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer, comedian Jin Hao Li delivers a unique and surreal brand of comedy.

A Rising Star on Screen

Beyond his live work, Jin Hao Li is also an acclaimed actor, having been nominated for Best Actor at the National Youth Film Awards. His rising profile has led to a string of television appearances, including Comedy Central Live, The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), and ITVX Presents: Live Comedy From the Edinburgh Fringe. With a distinctive voice and a rapidly growing list of accolades, Jin Hao Li is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and original comedians working in the UK today.

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