After the Severance season 2 finale left me emotionally reeling, I was looking for something more lighthearted to pass my weekend – and boy, did I find the perfect show on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service.
LOL: Last One Laughing UK hinges on one simple premise. Stick ten iconic British comedians in a room for six hours with one key rule – they’re not allowed to laugh. They get one warning yellow card if they slip up once, but two strikes means they’re out.
And what a line-up it is. Anyone who’s watched any comedy panel show, such as 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown or Would I Lie to You, or is a fan of Taskmaster, will recognise these hilarious contestants: Bob Mortimer, Daisy May Cooper, Joe Lycett, Judi Love, Rob Beckett, Sara Pascoe, Lou Sanders, Joe Wilkinson, Harriet Kemsley and Richard Ayoade.
Watching them like hawks via a series of Big Brother-style cameras are hosts Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty, who throw in curveballs to try and make the comedians crack – from a ‘naughty step’ that contestants must sit on and listen to naughty comments from everyone else, to surprise guest stars coming into the house at the most unexpected times.
One quite literally had me screaming at the TV… though I advise not watching the ‘next time’ trailer at the end of each episode to avoid spoilers because they often ruin a very good twist.
The show has been climbing Prime Video’s top ten list rapidly, and it’s now sitting in the number two spot behind heavy hitter Reacher. After binging all the episodes that are out in one sitting (four of them), it’s easy to see why.
Seeing how the players contort their faces to avoid reacting in glee in the face of some truly stellar material is a real treat. Some, like Ayoade, have a straight face of steel. It makes you desperate to see what will make them crack.
The premise isn’t a unique one. The original series, Documental, began in Japan in 2016. There have since been several regional variants of the format, which are available on Prime Video. LOL: Last One Laughing Canada features Taskmaster alumni Mae Martin and Whose Line star Colin Mochrie, while Ireland’s version has Aisling Bea competing and Graham Norton presenting.
If you’re a little hesitant to try out this show for fear of cringing, you’re not alone. I’d seen the format in action when internet comedy channel Funhaus (formerly part of Rooster Teeth) adapted it for their channel with a bunch of content creators. It was called Last Laugh.
I didn’t mind Last Laugh – some of the contestants were brilliant – but a lot of the series was too loud and in-your-face for a Brit like me, which left me battling through some episodes. That’s not the case with this Prime Video version.
Some of the best comedy comes from the absurd (and sometimes dry) conversations in the corners of the room or a sly look that just happens to catch another person off guard. The ‘Joker’ gimmick gives the players a real chance to shine, as they put on a prepared skit that everyone else must watch. Just wait for Mortimer’s turn, is all I’ll say.
The two final episodes drop this Thursday, 27 March 2025. Once I’m done with those, I’ll try out the international versions – but this incredible UK line-up is tough to beat. Which begs the question, if there’s a LOL: Last One Laughing UK season 2… who could they get?
LOL: Last One Laughing UK is rolling out episodes now on Prime Video. If you don’t have Prime yet, new members can get a 30-day free trial.
