The abundance of British late night comedy television draws from a wealth of stand-up talent that has been gaining momentum since the early 1980s, marked by the opening of the first American-styled stand-up comedy club, the Comedy Store, in London’s West End.

I have put together a selection of You Tube links, sampling a number of these performers (mostly of the “observational” genre but not to overlook the unnerving ventriloquism of Nina Conti) currently working the circuit in the UK and often Australia as well. The rise of Brit comedy award shows alone would suggest that something of a “wave” is a-rippling across the pond. See what you think.