Canadian-born comedy star Phil Nichol is back on the road for the first time in seven years, bringing his brand-new show ‘Trying My Best’ to audiences across the UK. The multi-award-winning comedian, actor, and musician kicks off the tour on October 16 at the Crown House in St. Leonards-on-Sea, before heading to a string of his favourite venues across the country.

Nichol, who has been a fixture on the international comedy scene for nearly four decades, promises fans a night of high-energy laughter, musical mischief, and unpredictable storytelling. ‘Trying My Best’ is billed as a ‘greatest hits’ of sorts, drawing from his remarkable back catalogue of award-winning material and career-defining routines. The show will feature some of his best-loved comedy songs, including You Can’t Say That to Me, Sleazy Massage, Elvis Sucks, and the enduring Corky-era classic Only Gay Eskimo.

But Nichol is not just about music. His performances are known for seamlessly blending songs with stories, observational humour, and quick-fire one-liners. Expect tales about life as a Canadian living in the UK, playful digs at British quirks such as transport woes and the national love of alcohol, and the kind of crowd work that makes each show feel one-of-a-kind. His style, equal parts warmth, cheek, and manic energy, is often described as both infectious and impossible to predict.

“Phil has been getting better at comedy since March 1987,” teases the flyer for the new show. “One of these days he may just get it right. Until then, he just keeps trying.” It is this self-deprecating humour, delivered with a twinkle in his eye, that has kept audiences coming back for decades.

Nichol last toured in 2018 with Your Wrong, a deeply personal yet hilarious production that played more than 150 shows across 15 countries. That show explored questions of faith, truth, and family, framed around his brother’s life-threatening car accident and recovery. Critics praised it as one of his boldest and most heartfelt works.

A veteran of the stage since the late 1980s, Nichol first found fame as part of the Canadian musical comedy trio Corky and the Juice Pigs. Their anarchic style and unforgettable songs won international attention, even landing the group a season on the American sketch show Mad TV. After the band split, Nichol moved to London to pursue stand-up and theatre. He quickly made his mark, winning the Time Out Comedy Award in 1998, a Perrier Award nomination in 2002, and ultimately the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2006.

Since then, his career has spanned television, theatre, and film. He has appeared in hit sitcoms such as Catastrophe, Uncle, and Man Down, and portrayed Terry Gilliam in the BAFTA-nominated Holy Flying Circus. On stage, he originated the role of Loco Chanelle in the Olivier-nominated Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and performed alongside stars like Christian Slater and Bill Bailey.

With his trademark grin and irrepressible energy, Nichol’s return to touring is certain to delight fans old and new. ‘Trying My Best’ is more than a comedy show, it is a reminder of why Phil Nichol remains one of the most dynamic performers of his generation.