Ava Vidal

Ava Vidal had a rather unique upbringing. She grew up in Syria but was educated at public school in the UK, studied law and spent five years as a prison officer at Pentonville Prison. A chance viewing of Chris Rock during a visit to New York made her decide to give stand-up comedy a go.

In the very first year of her career, Ava turned heads becoming the only female finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards. She also placed 3rd in the prestigious Hackney Empire New Act competition and quickly became a fixture on the standup comedy circuit performing in the UK, USA, Australia, India, South Africa and across Europe.

Ava’s TV appearances as a stand-up include: Michael Mc Intyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Mock the Week, various Comedy Central Shows and C4’s ‘Kings of Comedy’ amongst many others. She was the subject of a documentary called ‘From the Top’ that detailed her background and development as a comedian.

The broad range of subjects discussed in her stand-up meant people began approaching her for commentary work. She was a commentator on ITV the night of Barack Obama’s historic election victory. Ava has appeared on Channel 4 News debating subjects from skin lightening creams to Brexit racism. She became an inspiration to working mothers by bringing her then weeks old daughter on the show with her.

She has appeared on The Wright Stuff, Jeremy Vine Show, ITN and BBC News. She is a regular commentator for Good Morning Britain as well as on LBC across many shows, including the prestigious ‘Cross Question with Iain Dale.’ Her ability to use humour to make people feel at ease means she can make heavyweight topics accessible to all.

Commentary work meant she was asked to write opinion pieces for various newspapers including The Times, The Huffington Post, The New Statesman, The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday - even having her own column in Telegraph Women. She is now a regular writer for The Independent.

Ava is also a patron for Show Racism the Red Card and Stop and Search Legal Project. She juggles motherhood with a hectic schedule of TV and Radio appearances both as a comic and a commentator.

Ava is able to speak about diversity, equality, race relations and feminism. She has spoken at Oxford and Cambridge Student Unions, Lancaster University, London School of Economics (LSE) and many schools.

She has also spoken in the City at prestigious firms such as Simmons and Simmons, Rothschild, and Herbert Smith Freehills amongst others.

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