Ricky Gervais support slot at Wembley Arena could beckon for Highland comedian Matt Black after stunning Dutch Barn Vodka Spirit of Comedy success
A scaffolder turned stand-up comedian who created Inverness Comedy Club is vying to support British comedy legend Ricky Gervais at Wembley Arena.
Highland funnyman Matt Black already enjoys a blossoming reputation as a talent on the Scottish stand-up scene, but is more used to appearing before crowds of several dozen in Inverness.
As one of only 15 to battle through the rounds against 800 UK comedians to make the grand final of Gervais’ Dutch Barn Vodka Spirit of Comedy competition, he is in the running to open for The Office and Extras star before a crowd of 12,500.
The final will be held at the Leicester Square Theatre in London on October 1, with only one comic earning an incredible career leg-up by supporting Gervais at the indoor Wembley venue.
His biggest gig to date was opening for north-east cult hero Wray Thompson at the Tivoli Theatre in Aberdeen in November last year.
He has performed at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, multiple times at The Stand in Edinburgh and won Comedian Of The Year at the Aberdeen Fringe Festival 2024.
Black said: “I’m one of the last Scottish comedians left in the Spirit of Comedy competition.
“The final will be live on YouTube and it's a public vote, so I’m trying to get the word out to my fellow Highlanders to give the show a watch and give me a vote - if they like me!”
Black took up comedy tentatively in 2022 just after the pandemic, finding his niche in observational, story-based humour, working around family life as a dad and other anecdotal material.
Matt admits to being blown away by his passage to the final and said: “I submitted a 60-second clip in April for the Ricky Gervais competition. and got an invite to the quarter finals in Glasgow.
“I actually never made it through in Glasgow but then was given a wild card slot.
“This meant a clip of my set was posted on Instagram along with three other wildcards, with followers getting to vote for their favourite.
“I was then voted into first place and went to the semi-finals at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
“From there, I ended up winning the semi-finals and getting to the final!
“To say I could not believe I had managed to get to the final is an understatement. I was so shocked and delighted it took a few days to sink in.
“For the final at Leicester Square Theatre, I’m up against some great acts, but I'll give it my best shot.
“The highlands has some brilliant comedians, and I'm excited to get the chance to give the rest of the UK a taste of what Highland comedy has to offer.
“With the show live on YouTube on the Dutch Barn YouTube page, it will be a public vote - and I need all the help I can from folk up here in the Highlands!”