Last One Laughing UK: Bob Mortimer & Comedians Battle to Keep a Straight Face | Review
The premise is simple, almost brutally so: ten comedians locked in a room for six hours, tasked with *not* laughing. It’s a game of psychological endurance, a pressure cooker of wit and restraint, and, as evidenced by its growing popularity, surprisingly compelling television. , Prime Video will release further episodes of Last One Laughing UK, a format that’s proving to be far more than just a novelty.
The show, an adaptation of a Japanese original (cleverly renamed from “Documental”), isn’t about delivering stand-up routines; it’s about the meta-comedy of trying to suppress a natural human reaction. As one observer noted, situations where humour is forbidden are inherently funny. It’s a concept that resonates, tapping into a universal experience of stifled giggles in inappropriate settings – a funeral, a serious meeting, perhaps even a particularly awkward breakup.
This season’s lineup is a mix of established names and rising stars, including Bob Mortimer, Daisy May Cooper, Joe Lycett, Judi Love, Rob Beckett, Sara Pascoe, Lou Sanders, Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley, and Richard Ayoade. Hosting duties fall to Jimmy Carr, whose own peculiar laugh – described by one writer as potentially offensive to gulls – ironically underscores the show’s central conceit. Roisin Conaty also appears as a special guest.
The brilliance of Last One Laughing UK lies not just in the comedians’ attempts to avoid cracking up, but in the inventive strategies they employ. Yawning, lip-pursing, and even abruptly leaving the room are all fair game. One comedian, Gbemisola Ikumelo, reportedly found herself crying, her body overwhelmed by the effort to maintain composure. Bob Mortimer, a veteran of comedic absurdity, has even developed a “safety face” – a deliberately grotesque underbite – though its effectiveness is questionable, often eliciting laughter from his competitors.
The show isn’t solely about defense, although. The comedians actively weaponize humour, deploying everything from helium-induced voice changes to Bollywood song interludes. Carr, for example, was observed breathing helium from a balloon hidden under his shirt before engaging in compact talk, lamenting that he sounded “butcher.” Romesh Ranganathan, meanwhile, attempted to break his fellow comedians with a rendition of a song from the Bollywood film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, while wearing a baseball cap backwards. The resulting chaos is, according to reports, “so funny, it feels unfair.”
What’s particularly interesting about Last One Laughing UK is its departure from traditional reality television formats. The show doesn’t rely on manufactured drama or explosive confrontations. Instead, it explores a different kind of tension – the internal struggle to suppress a fundamental human response. This aligns with a broader trend in game show programming, where social strategy and psychological endurance are increasingly valued over simple spectacle.
Shows like Big Brother and The Traitors have demonstrated the appeal of complex social dynamics and strategic gameplay. Last One Laughing UK takes this a step further, actively celebrating repression. As one commentator wryly observed, the show’s premise is a “distorted response to natural stimulus,” perhaps even a “perversion.”
Despite this somewhat unsettling undercurrent, or perhaps because of it, the show is undeniably captivating. It’s a reminder that humour can be found in the most unexpected places, even in the act of trying not to laugh. It’s a testament to the power of comedic timing, the absurdity of human behaviour, and the enduring appeal of watching talented performers push themselves to the limit. And, as one comedian admitted, sometimes a smile is just a smile – even during a breakup.