Mike is an established act, with many years experience on the national and international comedy circuit; including the Comedy Store and Jongleurs’ clubs as a regular compere and headliner. He also works overseas entertaining the armed services for the highly regarded C.S.E. organisation.
Mike is also a resident compere at Newcastle’s Hyena Comedy Cafe, which was acclaimed as ‘One of the top ten comedy clubs in the country’. (Daily Telegraph).
He works regularly as an after dinner speaker & entertainer; providing a successful blend of material, delivery and audience interaction that can be tailored to meet the needs of most events or clients.
As a sporting and after dinner entertainer, Mike has worked with Kate Adie, Rory Underwood, Mick Quinn, Jan Molby, Geoff Winter, John Beresford, Steve Howie, Bruce Grobbelaar, Alan Kennedy, Norman Whiteside, Duncan McKenzie, Dave Watson and Arthur Albiston.
Mike also recently hosted a celebrity snooker match between national champions John Higgins and Graeme Dott.
Mike has written and performed for TV and radio, including; Spender, Byker Grove, Catherine Cookson dramas, Justice for Gemma (Granada) ,B.B.C’s Ross King Show, Radio 4’s Afternoon Shift and Weekending ,The Paddy Kielty Show, Danni’s Dares (Ch.4) ,Running Jokes (Yorkshire T.V) , Bundy’s rum .TV campaign (Australia) and It’s Funny up North (I.T.V 3) Premiership football match Promo trailer {ESPN)
He provided the voiceover for Viz Comic’s highly successful Sid the Sexist DVD, as well as performing his character live in concert at Newcastle City Hall.
He also writes a popular weekly column in the Evening Chronicle and has performed a sell out one man show based upon them at the Jesterval comedy festival.
In 2021, Mike supported the iconic Phoenix Nights star ‘Clinton Baptiste‘ on his national theatre tour, as well as selling out his own new solo show ’Monkey Mind’ in venues and theatres across the North-East.
Reviews
“Top northern stand up” – Sunday Times Culture Magazine
“Mike Milligan ****; you’ll have a great time” – The Scotsman
“Cracking paced show won the audience over with quality gags and observations. hecklers were gleefully seized upon” – The Journal
“A name to watch out for” – Daily Telegraph
“it’s hard not to feel completely awesome about comedy watching Mike on stage having fun” – The Crack Magazine
“An absolute treat seeing the master at work” – Jongleurs Birmingham Twitter page
“Snappy, sharp and packed full of belly laughs, Mike Milligan stole the show” – Edinburgh Evening News
“Dominic Maxwell’s top five comedy listings – Mike Milligan at Jongleurs Birmingham” – The Guardian
“This is one of my favourite acts on the circuit at the moment. He’s a really funny guy from the North east, so spot on with all his material and truly gifted at dealing with hecklers. One of the north’s finest” – Chortle, the UK comedy guide
“The popular Geordie comic is both original and bang up to date, taking the time to find out about his whereabouts and incorporate them into his act. His delivery is fast and furious and at times he is so quick, he leaves his audience trailing behind but it’s no bad thing and he certainly knows how to keep us on our toes” – Ilkley Theatre Review
“For me the highlight of the night was his hilarious, lengthy, and vitriolic diatribe directed at chavs; or to use the colloquial, charvers – Purely belter!” – The Northern Echo
“He has one of the quickest comedy brains on the circuit, so any potential hecklers should be warned – be good or be bettered” – Evening Gazette
“Headliner for the night was Mike Milligan, a comedian who has honed his mirth making skills to a high degree” – What’s On? Magazine
“Jongleurs Compere Mike Milligan did a superb job warming up the audience and skilfully brought the second half to an effective crescendo with his cheeky style” – Nottingham Evening Post
“Mike Milligan, born and bred a Geordie, is proud of his northern roots. Biting wit and razor sharp social commentary, coupled with strong performance skills, make Mike one of the best comedians to come out of Tyne and Wear” – Evening Chronicle
“Geordie laughter merchant Mike Milligan’s set raised hysterical fits of glee” – York Press
“During his one man show he provided an abundance of laughs through cleverly observed material. Another winning trick was the more he engaged with the punters, the more incisive and impressive his observations became” – Go magazine, Glasgow
“We bid a welcome return for the razor sharp Geordie wit to our theatre. Mike has a fine set built up over 10 years at the top level of comedy” – UK Theatre Web
“Sharp and witty, a great mix of material, delivery and audience interaction” – Dublin Events
“Mike is a genuinely funny guy who is guaranteed to make sure the night ends on a high” – The Gazette Online
“The popular Geordie comic is both original and bang up to date; discover the brilliance of his act – it’s fast and furious and keeps the audience on their toes” – The Pickled Egg –Ilkley Theatre review
Corporate Testimonials
“Fresh, entertaining and engaging….. He unified a very broad range of clients into an audience with hilarious material and improvisation. I have already booked him for next year’s annual dinner” – Ian Dormer, Institute Of Directors
“Mike was great. He made local references that really worked” – Zurich Comedy Club
“Brilliant. Mike judged his delivery and material exactly right for the audience at this very important presentation. They all thoroughly enjoyed the show” – Chris Jowsey M.D Newcastle Federation Breweries
“He was brilliant and went down a storm!! Dealing with a room of 125 people from across the country of different ages and backgrounds and having them all with you is quite a challenge but Mike had the whole room with him. All I heard yesterday were positive comments about him and he helped set the mood for the rest of the night. We will be doing events like this again and Mike will be our first choice“ – Julia Say; PA to Derek Lloyd CEO – Danoptra Gaming Group
“It’s pretty much impossible for a comedian to please all 150 guests at a corporate event, especially when the organiser tells him not to swear or use any blue jokes! Nonetheless, Mike Milligan did a great job of this; I choked on my food several times as I laughed so much. He’s a very funny man and highly recommended” -Tony Alleeson; Finance Director & company secretary – Hills Electrical & Mechanical Group
“Thanks again for the show last Wednesday; you really did go down well with the students. I’m hoping they’ll have stopped talking about it by next year!!“ – Barbara Coll, Head of Student Recruitment Week, Newcastle University
“Thank you very much for a superb job on Sunday we were really pleased how the whole awards evening went. Your spots were fantastic and you went down really well with the crowd .I thought you judged them really well. They all had a fab time and we have had some lovely comments. I will be in touch again when I have something come up” – Sarah Byrne M.D Mosaic Events,
“I’d just like to say thanks for Mike Milligan; he was the perfect choice for our annual dinner! He is a very nice, genuine guy and extremely funny, I had tears streaming down my face – He certainly knows how to work an audience! Thank you again and please book him for next year“ – Sue McGinnes – East Midland Cooperative Society
“Brilliant… this has been one of the best compere performances I’ve seen at this club since it opened four years ago and we have had most of the U.K circuit out here” – Adrian Houghton; Manager of 1 Nite Stand Club, Singapore
”Thank you so much for Wednesday night- You were excellent!! I had so many positive comments from everyone about your act and the whole night, you really helped to get the party moving. I can’t thank you enough. I’ve emailed the agency to say how good you were and that when we do anything like this again we’ll be looking to book you!!” – Gamestec U.K annual conference, Leeds
‘Bloody hilarious Geordie, that took real b****cks!” – Sergeant, Parachute Regiment, C.S.E Cyprus
“A massive thank you for last Wednesday night, I’m so glad I got to see the whole act because it was brilliant and really well received by the students (could tell by the roaring laughter and rapturous applause!) I really hope you’ll be willing to come back next year because we’d love to have you!” – Anna Wraith, Assistant Student Recruitment Officer. Newcastle University.
“A very successful evening, he went down very well with everyone present – Would recommend” – Elaine Watson Operations Coordinator Old English Inns/Loch Fyne
“Mike was excellent. He thoroughly entertained a mixed audience at our black tie AGM event for nearly an hour. The feedback from the guests was extremely positive” – Richard Hinton, Chairman Welsh Faculty of Building
“Mike was excellent. He read the room perfectly and had the audience crying with laughter. Your recommendation was spot on.Thank you” – David Clarke MD Rightway / Bevan & Sons Ltd
“What a hilarious evening’s entertainment he provided for our Junior Captain’s annual dinner, Mike is completely different to anything we’ve had here in a long while” – Eddie Tickle, Leyland Golf Club and Function centre
“An excellent evening’s entertainment, Mike was hilarious” – Mick Quinn, sports personality and Talk Sport radio presenter
“The best comedian I’ve seen at a rugby do in over 20 years. Mike had the guys in complete stitches for 45 minutes. The comic we had last year had people walking out after ten- I’ve never seen the ladies’ team give a standing ovation before!“ – Adriaan Posthuma, Secretary South Yorkshire R.F.C
“Hilarious. We’ve never had anything like it” – Ian Silcock, Sedgefield Cricket Club
“He had a marquee of 300 people eating out of his hand and p*ssing themselves laughing. We’d booked him for next years do before he left the venue” – Gary Butler, Shotley Bridge Cricket Club
“Mike was recommended to us by another club and the lads had one of the best nights of comedy they can remember. Thanks Mike“ – Ray Murray, Winlaton Vulcans Rugby Club
“I use Mike for a range of sporting functions, He always rips it!“ – Graham Foster, Manager, Grass Roots Sports Events & Speakers.
“Mike had the whole room crying with laughter for 45 minutes, yet more remarkably, the entire set was all about those who were present. How does he do it?” – Whittingham Cricket Club