The comedian talks to DIVA ahead of Comedy Bloomers’ LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2025
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY COMEDY BLOOMERS
On 10 June, audiences will be treated to the hilarious grand final of this year’s Comedy Bloomers’ LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year. This is the competition’s fourth year, and DIVA-favourite comedian Zoe Lyons’ third time being featured on the judging panel. We caught up with the iconic comic and lesbian to find out more about the competition and the queer comedy circuit.
DIVA: You’re on the judging panel for Comedy Bloomers’ LGBTQ+ Comedian Of The Year again. What are you most looking forward to?
ZL: I am delighted to be asked back for a third time to be part of the judging panel because it is quite simply a brilliant night to be a part of. In the previous years I judged, I was blown away by the standard of talent and the range of voices on stage. It is so utterly refreshing to see so many new and emerging acts bringing their stories, ideas jokes to audiences. It is a chance for these finalists to perform in a beautiful big room in London, and for some, it will be just the start of bigger and better things.
I will never forget the courage it took me to make those first moves to become a comedian, so to watch these newer comics at the start of their careers is a treat and a joy to be part of.
Can you describe the competition in three emojis?
🤡 👑 🏳️🌈
What has it been like for you navigating the comedy world as a lesbian comedian?
The weird thing for me was when I started out, I didn’t really talk about my sexuality that much onstage because it was challenging enough for a lot of audiences that there was a woman on the bill. And I suppose, if I am honest, at the start, if and when I did reference it, it was a way of almost pre-empting a heckle from the crowd.
Audiences just hadn’t been exposed to that much diversity 20-plus years ago. They were used to seeing four white straight blokes on any lineup, so it was quite challenging at times. If I did mention being gay, it was often seen as “banging on” and there wasn’t a lot of tolerance in many comedy rooms, so it wasn’t the most comfortable of experiences for me. It was quite interesting to see audiences change over the years.
I once got some very nasty homophobic abuse from a guy in the crowd at a club in Cardiff. My heart stopped for a second, but then the whole audience turned on him and shouted him down. I remember doing a radio show ages ago where the presenter kept referring to me as Zoe Lyons, lesbian comedian, until I pointed it out to them. That would never happen now, I am blessedly unremarkable in today’s world.
Why do you think so many queer and trans people pursue comedy?
I think there are a couple of big factors. Firstly, queer and trans people are much more likely to have endured some kind of push back or bullying. I know that, for a lot of people, comedy becomes a form of preservation. Comedy can be much more complex than simply making people laugh. It is a way of offering up ideas and experiences in a different way, to change the perspective on things. The reward for an open, listening audience is the laughter.
Is there any advice you’d like to give to aspiring LGBTQIA comedians?
I would advise anyone to perform as much as they can. The learning is in the doing. Try to perform in different environments, in different rooms, and in different parts of the country if you can. To become good at anything, you need to keep pushing the boundaries a bit. The other thing to remember is that we all have bad gigs sometimes. When you are newer to comedy, these can feel like total catastrophes. They are not. They are mere tiny bumps in a long road. But you can always learn from them. Maybe it was something you did, maybe it was the way the room was set up, or perhaps it was a gig that was never going to work. But you will get over it and move on.
Is there anything you’d like to address that hasn’t been touched on yet?
I just want to wish all the fantastic finalists at this year’s LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year the very best. I truly hope that they all enjoy the experience and have a lot of fun. And if you haven’t got your tickets already come and join us on 10 June and see just how the queer comedy circuit is thriving and producing some of the best acts out there.
The grand final of the Comedy Bloomers’ LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year takes place at the Clapham Grand on Tuesday 10 June 2025. For tickets, visit: outsavvy.com/organiser/lgbtq-events
DIVA magazine celebrates 31 years in print in 2025. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA+ media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
✨linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine ✨