Which big-name comedians would you happily take your kids (12+) to see?

[sixbigthrills]

We love stand-up comedy but don't go as often as we'd like to. I recently went to see Bill Bailey with friends who was fantastic. My kids (aged 15 and 12) would have loved the show too - it was very accessible, relatively clean and hilarious.

If you Google "family friendly comedy" you don't tend to get big names - it's predumably not a label that is sought-after by top comics. So I'm wondering if Mumsnetters have their own recommendations for comics that might be suitable for 12+ ?

My criteria would be:

1. Relatively clean (even if the kids have heard it in the playground, do they really want to hear it on a night out with Mum and Dad?).
2. Not too many cultural references to things they know very little about (e.g. 1980s tv shows or long-dead celebrities)

I love Russell Howard, I watch his shows with teen dd but I think some stuff might be very inappropriate for 12 year olds depending on how mature they are.

I'd forgotten abot Milton Jones and Dave Gorman. I've seen both of them and agree that they're family friendly.

To be honest, it's a bit of a risk whoever you see. Sometimes the main act is fine but the support act is cruder than you would like.

Depends on your 12 year old.

Dd has seen Marcus Bridgestock who was great and family friendly, and Ross Nobel who was brilliant, but as he thinks sideways you never know!
Would also recommend Al Murray

Adding Lee Evans but you'll be stuck with TV/DVD as I think he's retired. Slightly crude and sweary but mostly harmless.

Bill Bailey
Michael McIntyre
Ed Byrne was surprisingly clean but not that good live (he lacked stage presence imo)
Jack Dee - I went when I was about 14 and he was fine. Nothing too rude or embarrassing.

Frankie Boyle?
lol

Russel Kane, Joe Lycett, Russell Howard

Oh - and check with the venue though, some shows will be classed as age specific

Milton Jones. He's brilliant.

Michael macintyre swears a lot in the live shows. Be warned.

Katherine Ryan is great live, and she usually has good warm-up acts as well. Bit sweary, some sexual content, but nothing as bad as what they’ll hear on be playground at that age.

She also doesn’t rely heavily at all on “old references”, she uses a lot of current issues in her observational stuff.

David O Doherty would be perfect

Do not go and see Russell Kane with a 12 year old, I think the tickets say 14+ and I'd still say higher we went last week and someone had taken their 9 year old, the gasp from the audience when he announced his age; he didn't return for the second half.

James Acaster, Milton Jones, no sex references, no swearing.

Most stand up is adult themed though really. Even these two are really.

Peter Kay's great live and pretty inoffensive!

Adam Hills, seen him lots of times and he is always brilliant.

Bill bailey :) not russell Howard although I love him. Alex Horne?

I'd also try and get tickets for some BBC radio comedy. There is quite a good selection of you look.

Jack Whitehall and Russell Howard are great for teens. Depends on how mature your 12 yo is but mine love them.

Michal Macintyre does indeed sweat a lot during the lives shows. Still funny. But very sweary.

@Whatjusthappenedthere Maybe he just needs a stronger deodorant then?!

We took ours to Dave gorman recently, sweary but really really good. We had to explain a few age specifics (can’t think of any examples now, but think stuff you wouldn’t know if you were born in the 00’s).
If they like modern life is goodish, it’s the same sort of thing.

I took my DD to see Jon Richardson (she's a big fan and 12) he was much rider than on TV but v funny. She found it terribly thrilling but I did say I would not explain any jokes she didn't understand!
Do not under any circumstances go and see Frank Skinner. Funniest but filthiest comedian I've ever seen live.

Not Sophie Hahen - quite a lot about abuse.
You could take them to recording of the Guilty Feminist, or the news quiz. Jo Brand, Rosie cant remember 2nd name shes got cf. Sindu Vee. The woman with the puppets.

We saw Jason Manford with DS who is nearly 14. Some slightly embarrassing but language pretty clean and was hilarious. Would deffo recommend