Richard Sandling

Richard Sandling is a multi-talented British artist with a diverse career spanning comedy, film, and television. Hailing from South Benfleet, Sandling began his comedy journey by running and MCing the Squat Betty Alternative Comedy Club in Southend. His dedication to stand-up led him to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe numerous times, both as a solo act and as part of the sketch double act ‘Kiosk of Champions’ alongside Stuart Goldsmith. His comedic talents were recognized in 2007 when he won ‘So You Think You’re Funny.’ He has performed comedy across the UK, North America, and Canada, including being part of the Montreal ‘Just For Laughs Britcom Show’ in 2008. In 2012, Sandling was the sole British nominee at Comedy Central’s ‘The Comedy Awards’ in New York, marking a significant milestone in his international recognition.

Beyond comedy, Sandling has made notable contributions to film and television. His acting credits include roles in ‘Nan The Movie’ (2022) as Colin, ‘Nightshooters’ (2018) as Tarker, ‘A Fistful of Lead’ (2018) as Johnny Romford, and ‘Nina Forever’ (2016) as a Bus Passenger. On television, he was a season regular on ‘Catherine Tate’s Nan Specials’ and ‘Zapped,’ and has appeared in acclaimed series such as ‘Peep Show’ and ‘Miranda.’ In 2021, Sandling made his feature film directorial debut with ‘Phase,’ a sci-fi comedy filmed remotely via Zoom, showcasing his innovative approach to filmmaking amidst challenging circumstances.

Sandling is also a prolific writer and short-form filmmaker, creating mashups, video art, and narrative pieces. His writing credits include ‘Phase’ (2021), ‘Soul Reaper’ (2019), and ‘A Fistful of Lead’ (2018). He curates the ‘Squat Betty Avant Garde Film Night’ monthly, promoting experimental short films globally. A notable passion of his is collecting VHS tapes, a subject he has incorporated into three Edinburgh shows. As the former Myspace.com/comedy film reviewer, he was also featured in the documentary ‘The People vs. George Lucas’, demonstrating his deep engagement with film criticism and culture.