what we do

luh-may·oh·nayz

LMAOnaise started in 2020 as a weekly newsletter sending a selection of the best upcoming comedy shows straight into your inbox.

And it still is a newsletter! But it’s also so much more. It’s a magazine. It’s a newspaper. It’s a vibe. It’s the result of a pandemic-inflicted emotional, personal and industry-wide crisis. At one point that now feels like a fever dream it was a LIVE SHOW.

LMAOnaise is about the comedy we love the most. So expect to read about everything from the best new stand-ups to the wonderfully weird alternative stuff you rarely get to read about. We want to give some column inches to those acts the big sites and publications often leave out.

This is for those of us who can’t live without the regular laughs, and want to support the comedians who deliver them.

WINNER of the Best Entertainment & Culture Newsletter at the Media Voices Publisher Newsletter Awards 2024

Shortlisted for the Women in Journalism Georgina Henry Award at the British Journalism Awards 2023

This newsletter has been an amazing discovery. Highlighting fantastic acts performing across London and beyond. It is particularly valuable in highlighting newer, emerging performers and is a highly trusted stamp of approval for anyone covered.

Paul, reader
I love getting the LMAOnaise newsletter in my inbox because it helps me find new comedians, discover new nights and generally diversify and enhance my comedy consumption! It also reminds me that there are other folks who are fed up with all male or all white or all cishet line ups and it gives me hope for comedy to change and improve.

Ruth, reader
What I like about LMAOnaise is that its writing genuinely understands comedy and focuses on and is deeply rooted in the new and exciting. It’s a refreshing antidote to the old guard and a great addition to the alt comedy ecosystem in the UK.

Alex, reader
With LMAOnaise, Zoe is changing things for the better, challenging the hegemony of existing critics and comedy websites, shining a light on a range of diverse and underappreciated performers, and creating a kinder approach to reviewing.

Rachael Healy, journalist
LMAOnaise is one of the few comedy publications that is inclusive, diverse and does not sexualise or discriminate against anyone. It feeds a really important part of the live comedy industry.

Georgina Thomas, comedian
The LMAOnaise newsletter and website is the only place I feel I can get recommendations on alternative comedy content I’m actually going to enjoy! I trust your opinion and you’re an engaging writer so I never skip a word.

Angela Pearson, PR
You always let me know about a whole diverse range of comedy that honestly I’m not sure how I’d hear about otherwise?!

Amy, reader
I love how inclusive it is – catering for different tastes and championing smaller names. It’s a ray of sunshine in my inbox.

Nancy, reader
I've loved reading LMAOnaise, it represents and gets the alternative comedy scene in a way mainstream comedy review sites just don't. Not only that, but it is a space for positivity, actively supporting newer acts and holds amazing values when it comes to inclusivity. I'm so glad to have discovered this gem of a newsletter.

Nadine, reader
LMAOnaise provides a vital service to an under-served section of the performing arts world and gives vital exposure to developing artists, as well as playing a key role in connecting developing comics from a diverse background to form a community that supports and nurtures their development.

Charlie Ralph, BIGHEAD Comedy
As a performer, it’s so nice to know that lovely people, with great taste, will be aware of the work that I’m putting on. LMAOnaise’s published words about my own work got me opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had, and made me feel seen as a creator, from someone whose opinion I really trust.

Christian Brighty, comedian
LMAOnaise offers a different perspective from some of the larger comedy sites. I see faces that reflect diversity in both comedy and background, and there is more transparency and positivity in the tone of writing.

Jasmine Darling, comedian
LMAOnaise is the only sane comedy publication. It’s brilliant, inclusive, and uplifts voices of the weird and wonderful as only an erudite paper could.

Queenie Miller, scripted comedy development producer at Hat Trick

house rules

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house rules 〰️

Everything is personal

Comedy is entirely subjective. Duh-doy. Journalists are often hung up on everything being unbiased and objective. NOT HERE. It’s impossible with comedy. We are proudly biased. Everything that we recommend is there because we back it. We don’t publicise a show in the newsletter just because we’re sent it, and if there’s something harmful or unpleasant, we’re not going to amplify it just because it will get clicks. There is a reason behind everything we publish, and you should be able to see upfront what our biases are.

LMAOnaise exists as a positive space for promoting comedy and fun times with pals. For this reason we have some rules:

No all-white line-ups

We will never recommend mixed-bill comedy nights that are just white people. No explanation needed.

Vocally inclusive

Live comedy has been and often continues to be pretty hostile to women, queer people, people of colour…not straight white men basically. This is why we make a point of being explicit, not implicit, in how important it is to us to make extra space for these voices.

No negative reviews

We began as a service to recommend shows to people who love comedy, and this is our approach to reviewing. If we didn’t like it, or if the performer was having an off day, we don’t think that needs to exist permanently online. Constructive criticism is useful, but our style is talking about why we love the things that we love.

No star ratings

We don’t love the reliance on star ratings. We are of the belief that you can’t boil humour down to a points system, and rating a comedy show out of five doesn’t really help performers or audiences, so we won’t be using stars. The comedy reviewing world has been built by handful of men, and we want to sprinkle in a bit of variety. Who says we have to do it like they do?

who we are

The LMAOracles

Zoë Paskett

founder & editor

Zoë writes the newsletters and reviews, as well as editing and designing the website and newspaper. She is qualified to recommend comedy due to her impeccable taste* and a history of writing about comedy and the arts for national and local publications.

She sometimes reviews for Funny Women, and doesn’t like star ratings and thinks reviewers should consider not giving them.

*Maddy said this once and Zoë took it to heart.

Maddy Bye

co-founder & producer

Maddy is half of sketch group Siblings (with her sister Marina), as well as one of the hardest working producers in the biz. She produced the hell out of the single LMAOnaise Live we streamed from the Clapham Grand during the pandemic.

She runs comedy night Siblings & Family Friends, and is a producer for Impatient Productions. She occasionally acts as Zoë’s emotional support comedian.

Georgia House

print designer & photographer

Georgia is our resident creative person for all things print and was integral in bringing the newspaper to life, from photographing and designing the cover to creating artwork and badges for our crowdfunding rewards.

She is an extraordinarily talented producer and can craft just about anything your hearts could desire (all comedy merch commissions to Georgia immediately, please).

Michael Julings

logo designer

Michael is a designer and comedy director, who made our gorgeous LMAOnaise logos. He runs Piñata, a comedy collective a hosting an awesome monthly variety night, and free new material night in south London.

For Zoë’s birthday, he made her a personalised jar of mayo with all the original mock-ups for our mayo logo lady. It remains unopened but she worships it.

what we do

luh-may·oh·nayz

This newsletter has been an amazing discovery. Highlighting fantastic acts performing across London and beyond. It is particularly valuable in highlighting newer, emerging performers and is a highly trusted stamp of approval for anyone covered.

What I like about LMAOnaise is that its writing genuinely understands comedy and focuses on and is deeply rooted in the new and exciting. It’s a refreshing antidote to the old guard and a great addition to the alt comedy ecosystem in the UK.

With LMAOnaise, Zoe is changing things for the better, challenging the hegemony of existing critics and comedy websites, shining a light on a range of diverse and underappreciated performers, and creating a kinder approach to reviewing.

LMAOnaise is one of the few comedy publications that is inclusive, diverse and does not sexualise or discriminate against anyone. It feeds a really important part of the live comedy industry.

The LMAOnaise newsletter and website is the only place I feel I can get recommendations on alternative comedy content I’m actually going to enjoy! I trust your opinion and you’re an engaging writer so I never skip a word.

You always let me know about a whole diverse range of comedy that honestly I’m not sure how I’d hear about otherwise?!

I love how inclusive it is – catering for different tastes and championing smaller names. It’s a ray of sunshine in my inbox.

LMAOnaise provides a vital service to an under-served section of the performing arts world and gives vital exposure to developing artists, as well as playing a key role in connecting developing comics from a diverse background to form a community that supports and nurtures their development.

LMAOnaise offers a different perspective from some of the larger comedy sites. I see faces that reflect diversity in both comedy and background, and there is more transparency and positivity in the tone of writing.

LMAOnaise is the only sane comedy publication. It’s brilliant, inclusive, and uplifts voices of the weird and wonderful as only an erudite paper could.