The hit comedy competition Last One Laughing UK returns to Prime Video, with Bob Mortimer defending his title. The show locks ten comedians in a softly furnished room for six hours, where they attempt to make each other laugh while keeping a straight face themselves. Laughter or smiling results in yellow cards, followed by red cards and dismissal.
Hosted by Jimmy Carr, the new series features a mix of returning and new contestants. Alongside Mortimer, veterans such as Mel Giedroyc, Romesh Ranganathan, David Mitchell, and Diane Morgan appear, joined by younger comedians including Maisie Adam, Gbemisola Ikumelo, and Sam Campbell. Alan Carr also features prominently.
In the first two episodes, contestants employ various tactics. Ranganathan weaponises a south-east Asian accent by singing the Bollywood song 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' in Carr’s ear, while Campbell chimes in from the other side. Mortimer uses a 'safety face' – a preposterous underbite – which inadvertently causes others to laugh. Ikumelo begins to cry as her body misinterprets the task.
The show draws comparisons to other reality formats that emphasise strategy and restraint, such as Big Brother and The Traitors. Last One Laughing is described as an active celebration of repression, as contestants must suppress natural reactions to humour. Despite its inauthentic nature, the series offers a powerfully original thrill.
