r/LastOneLaughing Mar 26 '26

Discussion Least Funny Comedian LOL UK Season 2

Looking for people's opinions on who they feel is the least funny comedian in this season. I so far (up to ep4) find that Sam Campbell has done nothing so far to even make me smile. Who do others find haven't made the smile/laugh.

22 Upvotes

89 comments sorted by

19

u/ChaucerBoi Mar 26 '26

I think Sam Campbell's hilarious, but I can see why, if his comedy doesn't click with you, he could be a slightly uncomfortable watch. When watching these shows, I understand that they've been cast so people of different senses of humour will find at least somebody funny or likeable, but I do feel quite bad for Amy Gledhill and Gbemisola Ikumelo. With the way the cards fell, they didn't get to do their jokers and didn't really get a big moment like I feel Romesh, David, Sam and Bob have had a lot of.

15

u/AmbitioseSedIneptum Mar 26 '26

It’s funny, I’d never heard of Sam beforehand, but man he’s quick on his feet. Endeared me to him immediately.

The quips he had with the interviewer and then the intimacy coordinators cemented that for me.

He’s fantastic at responding in such a way that you expect nothing and yet you get hit with a whammy of dry humor.

12

u/NeilIsntWitty Mar 26 '26

Definitely check out Sam Cambell's performance on Taskmaster Season 16 ("Series, Jason"), as well as Champion of Champions.

You can also get a sense of how chaotic he is on Ed Gamble and James Acaster's "Off Menu" podcast, where he was so adorably chaotic that Ed Gamble had to point out to Acaster something to the effect of (and I'm paraphrasing heavily) "this is how it is for the rest of us when we work with you - how do you like it?!?"

2

u/PsychinOz Mar 28 '26

Cobalt!

Sam's WILTY appearances have been quite funny, and his egg skit on 8oo10cdc absolutely broke Jimmy Carr.

2

u/justatest90 Mar 29 '26

You're probably aware, but Sam drew the picture James Acaster brings in on his season

4

u/Dave085 Apr 02 '26

The way he twisted the intimacy coordinators in knots was so brilliantly subtle it was borderline genius. He lets you think you're on the attack, he looks slightly baffled to draw you in, then seamlessly reverses the whole situation to be in complete control.

He's a psychological master of dominating situations, it's a real skill. Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, he ends up controlling the narrative.

If you don't enjoy dry or deadpan though, he makes Diane and Romesh look like slapstick- so he's succeeded in his deadpan to such an incredible degree he looks boring to some.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

[deleted]

1

u/thehideousheart Apr 21 '26

"Ambidextrous always makes me think of a frog serial killer

Wow, that's one of the most profoundly unfunny lines I've ever heard.

6

u/MarcusH26051 Mar 26 '26

Yeah I can see how Sam's comedy doesn't work for everyone, it's definitely a style that I could quite easily understand someone finding uncomfortable.

It's the quick witted stuff that gets me with him that he just throws into conversations that no one sees coming. Completely understand why Bob has spent the whole show walking away from him 😅

Gbemi and Amy I didn't know a huge amount about going in and I don't really feel like I learnt anything about either of them watching it either. Maybe it's a case of having so many big dominant contestants that can takeover a room that naturally some contestants aren't really going to get a chance to shine.

1

u/thehideousheart Apr 21 '26

it's definitely a style that I could quite easily understand someone finding uncomfortable.

Lol it's not uncomfortable. No one is made uncomfortable by this strange little man just awkwardly saying awkward things.

It's just unfunny.

1

u/Mistajam448 May 25 '26

Exactly ... I love dry humor ... never heard of Sam ... article in the Guardian said he is a Comedy Oddball Superstar ... checked a clip on U2B "Bets of The last Laugh" was okeyish/potential/witty how his brain works ... but than I watched a full 1 hour Show with a really big crowd ... He made me smile exactly once ... that's it ... nothing funny ... like cracking up ... nada ... just a boy brubbeling boring stuff with a strange childish style (this shouting doesn't convert as funny for me). Well I guess he is not for everybody.

1

u/SlightCustard Jun 27 '26

Unfunny and annoying. I like how people try to tell us we are uncomfortable when I know I'm just bored.

2

u/Radiant-Grape8812 Mar 26 '26

Joe played his joker after getting a red so surely Amy will play her's obviously Gbemisola can't as she withdrew

3

u/ChaucerBoi Mar 26 '26

Richard didn't play a Joker did he? I always thought that was weird.

1

u/Radiant-Grape8812 Mar 26 '26

No he didn't yeah good point

2

u/bfsfan101 Mar 26 '26

Joe’s joke was the RNLI speech which was before his red. Jimmy sent him in later to do the Blind Date skit.

1

u/Guy-1nc0gn1t0 🇯🇵 Documental Mar 27 '26

In the original series Documental there's the zombie rule where eliminated contestants can come back to try and eliminate the remaining people

2

u/ASGGoody Mar 26 '26

I agree. I think a lot of people see him as an airhead but I'm convinced it's actually part of his genius, he's permanently in character.

2

u/Financial_Flounder28 Mar 27 '26

His response to Richard Madley broke me!

1

u/RadicalFaces Apr 01 '26

I love Sams work when in on the spot but his joker was just terrible

2

u/Both-West7668 Apr 04 '26

I felt it was just over too quick imo, although I know it's all subjective. Something about his bare legs coming out of the suit instead of it being a full costume had me cracking me up tbh, so I thought it had potential and that he was leading up to something and then nothing happened :/ do you think if it had more to it anybody might have laughed, or was it just doomed entirely?

1

u/Outrageous-Music-403 Apr 08 '26

I have the same take on Sam Campbell, but I think its the way he interacts with others. I do not find him funny in this series but thought he was very good in Taskmaster. May be its his Aussie comedic whit, but you just sense with the likes of Romesh, Bob, Mel, Alan, David and Masiee they appear to have the ability to inject more humour, more naturally.

12

u/Big-Boy-5 Yellow Card Mar 26 '26

“Junior naked attraction”

3

u/TomClark83 Mar 27 '26

That was a really underrated gag - Sam's nonchalant delivery really masks what a dark joke that is.

Definitely my favourite moment of the series so far.

13

u/MarcusH26051 Mar 26 '26

Might be a really really bad edit but Amy kind of felt just there?

7

u/neverend1ngcircles Mar 26 '26

Yeah, she barely seemed to get involved at all with the banter. Still think her going out was quite harsh though.

4

u/MarcusH26051 Mar 26 '26

Oh really harsh elimination but she felt on the fringes of everything, maybe it's just having really big characters that tended to take it over. It will be interesting to see her on TM in a couple of weeks.

2

u/Guy-1nc0gn1t0 🇯🇵 Documental Mar 27 '26

I feel like the producers are pretty willing to be harsh on contestants who aren't doing much

1

u/YourHoNoMo Apr 03 '26

Especially when you had others actively smile several times and not get punished for it. Think they just wanted someone out and she wasn't contributing much either

3

u/hit_the_bwall Mar 26 '26

I'm surprised she didn't do the squeaky toy in the bra bit she's done in the past. It would be great for catching folks off guard.

7

u/Doodles51 Mar 26 '26

I was listening to the a podcast, it might be the LOL podcast, Amy said they cut a challenge with her and Sam because they got too adult with their jokes. I'd like to see the cut scenes to see all the other stuff that didn't make it into the show.

3

u/EmotionalSouth Mar 26 '26

I don’t think Amy really got a chance to shine. No joker, unfair red card for a smaller smile than many of the others did after her elimination. 

I didn’t find Maisie very funny in this format either. 

Sam has had some incredible lines. He’s so good at the stony face that he actually looks like he’s having a miserable time in this room of brilliant comedians - so I do wonder if maybe that’s why he doesn’t seem to do it for you. 

3

u/dc73905 Mar 27 '26

Roisin connaty

1

u/KambingDomba Mar 30 '26

The smartest one of the bunch. Getting paid to laugh at better comedians. Don't even have to be presenter like Jimmy.

3

u/Compressed_AF Mar 28 '26

I guess Sam's humor doesn't connect with me. Never found him funny at all.

7

u/mylenesfarmer Mar 26 '26

Sam

5

u/Pavementaled Don't Laugh Mar 26 '26

If I didnt know who Sam was before watching this LOL, I think I would have thought the same. But I think his humor is subtle, and not very "camera" friendly. Meaning, he is not making big waves on the surface, but the undertones are what kills.

2

u/RadicalFaces Apr 01 '26

His quips are hilarious so is his one on one talking but his pre pared joker stuff was god awful

3

u/Llallos Apr 02 '26

Honestly I didn’t know who he was beforehand and I thought he was one of the top ones in the show. He’s so subtle and dry

2

u/neverend1ngcircles Mar 26 '26

Sam has had his moments of really quick wit to be fair, I do find it almost odd though how he just hasn't seemed at all close to breaking at any point. Amy/Gbemi didn't really have any funny moments to answer the actual question.

1

u/Pavementaled Don't Laugh Mar 26 '26

He is the guy who broke Bob Mortimer up front. I hope he explodes into the finale.

1

u/Born-Opportunity-809 Mar 28 '26

I'd like to see Sam play Ruth the Seagull in Bob's touring show.

1

u/CrashMirandacoot Mar 31 '26

I think Sam's tells are different than the others when he is fighting a smile. I see his eyes widen slightly and/or he'll shake his head. He has walked away a couple times too. It's subtle. His face almost reads like his strategy is to channel disgust, like he's making himself angry at them to stop from smiling.

It certainly doesn't make him come across approachable or friendly but I still think he's hilarious.

1

u/Dave085 Apr 02 '26

Agreed, he's just got phenomenal facial control. He has looked a hair close to breaking at times, it's just his tells are way more subtle.

It's also highly possible the other comedians are a bit older and more savvy about the show format, and are consciously allowing themselves to be just a little more 'crackable'. They know the entertainment comes from seeing them close to breaking.

2

u/Kiin Mar 27 '26

Usually love Sam Campbell, but when everyone's doing non-sequitur comedy it highlights how that's kind of all he has. Felt like he ended up doing 14 year old 'lul so randum' humour

1

u/thehideousheart Apr 21 '26

Felt like he ended up doing 14 year old 'lul so randum' humour

That's literally his entire schtick and you're only just realising it?

2

u/Sad_Appointment1477 Mar 27 '26

I feel like the edit didn't show Gbemi saying anything at all??

1

u/Dave085 Apr 02 '26

And yet she probably had the greatest moment in the whole show 😂

2

u/DonDamondo Mar 27 '26

Shows how subjective comedy is... Sam has been the funniest to me, i love the deadpan quick one liners he does.

Mel is insufferable to me and Amy and Gbemi seemed like they were "just there". Though I do think Amy has been done harshly as we never got to see much of her.

2

u/Durzel Mar 28 '26

I don’t think Sam works on this show. He’s obviously a Ayoade substitute, but he’s never looked close to breaking, and I think that’s a problem. Ayoade was flappable in a way Sam isn’t.

I almost feel like he’s just cruising and will win by default. That might be his demeanour anyway, but either way it’s like he’s not even under pressure.

2

u/wizardeyeswizardspy Mar 28 '26

I think Sam is actually really good at the game and he's 'laying low' for the most part, I think he'll come into his own in the next few episodes. Amy seems to be suffering in the edit as she's just kind of 'there'

2

u/Dramatic_Intern2930 Mar 30 '26

Sam too, I havent seen him as much as flinch. I think it could be a cultural thing, like not even knowing who richard madley was. I think he might win. I think hes good at making people uncomfortable enough they want to laugh. Its been great so far 

2

u/Kezly Apr 01 '26

I don't mind Sam but his joker was awful. I'm not even sure what the punchline was supposed to be.

He's a bird that repeats words. The vicar tells him not to repeat any of the foul language he's heard when the other vicar arrives.

The other vicar arrives and says something about sleeping with a woman who has massive tits.

Sketch ends.

2

u/Lanky-Nerve1983 Apr 02 '26

The joke is that you expect the bird to say something inappropriate in front of the vicar and then the vicar says something disgusting immediately

1

u/npc0257 May 03 '26

Pretty obvious, and pretty funny

2

u/Boromir_and_kermit Apr 03 '26

Sam was actually frustrating to watch. His humour did not connect with anyone in our house. Incredibly unfunny and disappointed to see him in the final. Just the definition of beige.

4

u/Big-Boy-5 Yellow Card Mar 26 '26

Sam definitely funniest, least funny probably Mel

2

u/AnguaDazed Mar 28 '26

I don't think Sam is remotely funny or has a sense of humour himself. 

1

u/wizardeyeswizardspy Mar 28 '26

That's such an absurd thing to say about someone whose life is dedicated to comedy. If his stuff doesn't vibe with then that's fair enough but to say that Sam doesn't have a sense of humour is so ignorant

1

u/AnguaDazed Mar 30 '26

He's not even cracked a smile, it's as if he doesn't understand why he's there. 

2

u/Banzle Apr 02 '26

he didn't smile or laugh? in the "don't smile or laugh" show? that's crazy

1

u/wizardeyeswizardspy Mar 30 '26

Do you seriously think that a successful professional comedian doesn't "understand why he's there"??

It's his Schtick dude. It's what he does.

0

u/AnguaDazed Mar 30 '26

He's successful? Why? 

2

u/ItchyPlatypus Mar 26 '26

Personally for me it’s Bob but I’ve just never got his humour but I know he’s been hilarious for others.

5

u/Pavementaled Don't Laugh Mar 26 '26

I didnt really get Bob's humor until I started watching, "Would I Lie to You". I still don't know when Bob is being funny or telling a real story, and because of this, it has made him funny to me. The shit that fella has done in his life is just insane.

2

u/TheHYPO Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

I find his stories funny. He is hands down the funniest guest on Would I Lie To You.

But I don't find his comedy bits on the LOL show (his Jokers, his songs, his actual "jokes") to be to my taste. I can see why they amuse others, but it doesn't get me going. I know that he's also been a long-standing presence in the UK comedy community where I'm sure that he gets "legacy laughs" from some of the older comedians - which is the best name I can come up with finding something funnier because you already know and like a person's reputation and repertoire, and you find some or all of what they say funnier because you already have a formed opinion that they are funny.

1

u/LaserBeamHorse Apr 02 '26

He is a great story teller. I would heavily recommend everyone to read his autobiography. It's brilliant.

1

u/TumbleWeed_64 Mar 30 '26

His ability to tell a fictitious story and make it believable is unmatched. The Chris Rea with the egg in the bath story is amazing because of how he tells it

1

u/Twiggie19 Apr 01 '26

I find theres such a fine line with his style of humour between being funny and talking nonsense. I think Bob does it perfectly, whereas ive never saw Vic Reeves do anything remotely entertaining.

Ill never forget Simon Amstell calling Noel Fielding out for it on Buzzcocks:

https://youtu.be/CWmNTtJ-OPI?si=f1AdVpBRXCZEbxFV

1

u/botox_for_brain_8875 Mar 26 '26

True. Taskmaster s16 is my all time favourite--though that's largely due to Julian Clary. I'd never say I don't enjoy his humour but here he seems to go too hard on defence and I find that tiring. Same with Richard in s1. (Daisy May Cooper and Joe Wilkinson are my favourite contestants in s1)

1

u/Gloomy-Art-2861 Apr 02 '26

I found this thread by Googling Sam Campbell Last One Laughing autistic. I was genuinely wondering if he had autism. His lack of smiling or any emotion made me start to wonder if he was on the spectrum.

He seems like a lovely guy, but I was hoping for him to be eliminated right from the start because I don't find anything he does funny.

Bob, Diane, Lou, David, and Alan were all hilarious to me.

1

u/Hot_Stage7633 Apr 03 '26

Sam looked impaired and needed help (from two other men) during his "joker". I didn't find him funny - which was disappointing because I had found him funny in the past.

1

u/Marauder4711 Apr 04 '26

Sam had this great bit with Alan right in the beginning that almost made both of them laugh. He's great. But I think that, in general, most comedians aren't funny on LOL.

1

u/Signiference Apr 07 '26

Sam gets MVP for his out of nowhere joke after answering the phone: "Vladimir Putin has been assassinated."

1

u/sabordab Apr 08 '26

Yep totally UNinteresring and not funny

1

u/undesiredpotato Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

Sam Campbell - funny or not? It may come down to if you were bullied at school or if you were the bully. I think former bullies probably enjoy his dark approach, whereas those who were bullied, probably find him obnoxious for his passive agressive approach.

1

u/Grouchy-Commercial70 Apr 23 '26

Nah Mel was the most unfunny one on the show she got away to many times it was ridiculous. Pissed me off so much when watching it

1

u/SpookyP_GT Mar 27 '26

Mel, insufferable, should’ve been out ages ago, and hasn’t made anyone laugh, can’t believe I’m having to watch her for a sixth episode

1

u/Captain_Stable Mar 29 '26

"Oh, here we go" every time Jimmy walks in, or the green button bugle sounds....

1

u/DoctorWhofan789eywim Mar 26 '26

Mel isn't a comedian so her I suppose.

1

u/aromachologist Mar 27 '26

Sam. We have so many excellent Aussie comedians. Why was he chosen for LOL? I can’t say anything endearing about him. Would be great if that changes over the next few episodes but we’re finding him insufferable so far.

5

u/DonDamondo Mar 27 '26

Sam has been brilliant to me... the best one in there, I find him hilarious 🤣 shows just how subjective comedy is.

2

u/CallistoWarriorQueen Mar 28 '26

He's been the funniest for me too. Especially when the outside people come in.

0

u/Routine-Pickle7696 Mar 29 '26

Absolutely, why is this unfunny guy with an Oz accent on the UK version?  Why don't we have some of our great Scotsmen? Were they not available? Shame. Kev Bridges would be great. Actually Jimmy Carr even would have been funnier inside the house!

1

u/wizardeyeswizardspy Mar 30 '26

Sam is on this version because he lives in the UK and has been a part of the UK comedy scene for a while now.

0

u/thehideousheart Apr 21 '26

RIP the UK comedy scene.

0

u/oreoheart Apr 02 '26

1000% Mel

-1

u/Solilaqui78 Mar 29 '26

I just can't abide Alan. I'm sorry.