Jake O'Kane
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Belfast-based stand-up Jake O’Kane had a baptism of fire into comedy in 1993. Within one week of appearing at a local comedy club’s try-out spot, Jake became a resident MC. Jake is now resident compère of Northern Ireland’s biggest and longest running comedy club The Empire Laughs Back at The Empire Music Hall in Belfast.
Jake has toured extensively, working with some of the biggest names on the comedy circuit including Ardal O’Hanlon, Dylan Moran and Peter Kay. Jake’s first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, appearing in a stand-up show entitled ‘Alternative Ulster’, received both popular and critical acclaim. Jake has also appeared at some of the country’s top comedy clubs including The Stand, Jongleurs and The Comedy Store.
Jake’s television and radio credits include appearances on the award-winning ‘The Empire Laughs Back’ as well as guest spots on ‘Two Ceasefires and a Wedding’ and ‘Give My Head Peace’. More recently, Jake hosted and performed on the BBC NI stand up show ‘One Night Stand’ and is resident panellist on ‘The Blame Game’ on both TV and radio. Jake has also contributed to some of Northern Ireland’s top television and radio programmes, writing and performing on ‘Kelly’, ‘The John Daly Show’ and ‘McKeever’, and secured a regular slot on Downtown Radio.
[edit] Appearances
Jake has appeared in various radio and television programmes including:
TELEVISION
- The Blame Game (BBC NI) – resident panelist – writer and performer
- Give My Head Peace (BBC NI) – guest performer
- One Night Stand (BBC NI) – host and stand-up performance
- Festival Nights (BBC NI) – guest contributor
- The John Daly Show (BBC NI) – writer and performer
- McKeever (UTV) – writer
- The Empire Laughs Back II (BBC NI) – stand-up performance
- Two Ceasefires and a Wedding (BBC NI) – guest performer
- Comic Relief (BBC NI) – stand-up performance
- The Empire Laughs Back (BBC NI) – stand-up performance
- The Kelly Show (UTV) – writer and performer
RADIO
- The Blame Game (Radio Ulster) – resident panelist
- Festival Review (Radio Ulster) - contributor
- Between The Lines (RTÉ Radio) – contributor and performer
- Saturday View (RTÉ Radio) – contributor and performer
- The John Daly Show ( Downtown Radio) – contributor and performer.
[edit] Reviews
“The unsung hero of the evening was Belfast’s own Jake O’Kane. Jake’s refreshingly up-front style immediately won the one thousand strong audience round”. (Sunday Life)
“When Mickey Mouse came to town, peace in Northern Ireland became a reality for Jake O’Kane. The opening of the Disney Store on Belfast’s Royal Avenue was the first credible harbinger of a lasting peace for the stand-up comedian. ‘As far as I was concerned, there was no way that Walt Disney would send Mickey Mouse anywhere he was likely to be shot’”. (Sunday Tribune)
Get to The Empire’s comedy club early on a Tuesday (remember not to sit at the front), and enjoy three acts along with legendary compère, Jake O’Kane. (NME Student Guide 2006)
