Big Bill's Comedy Night - Bilal Rashid Interview

Woolwich Works is putting bold new comedy centre stage with the launch of Big Bill’s Comedy Night, a new monthly stand-up series dedicated to emerging talent and boundary-pushing humour. 
 
Hosted by London-based comedian Bilal Rashid, the night offers a raw, high-energy alternative to larger touring comedy showcases, creating space for risk-taking, sharp writing and up-close crowd interaction in the intimate Beanfeast space. 

Bilal Rashid.

 
Bilal has built a reputation on the UK circuit for unapologetically dark, fiercely satirical comedy delivered with rapid-fire precision. A multiple Gong Show winner nationwide, including Beat the Gong, and finalist in the 2024 Beat the Frog World Series at Manchester’s Frog & Bucket, he has quickly become regarded as a “comedian’s comedian” - fearless, subversive and consistently hilarious. 

We sat down with Bilal to learn more.

What can you tell me about Big Bill's Comedy Night and the inspiration behind the event?
I wanted to make a night I would want to watch, I’ve always loved the likes of Frankie Boyle & Ali-G. I wanted to make a fun, wild night which caters to people who enjoy edgier, unfiltered & silly comedy.
Being called a 'comedian's comedian' is a huge compliment, but does it ever make you worry that 'normal' people won't get the joke, or do you enjoy the challenge of dragging them into your world?
Not at all, audiences don’t get enough credit for how smart they are. And ultimately if you don’t get it I always have a couple fart jokes as back up.

You’re known for unapologetically dark humour. Has there ever been a joke where even you thought, 'Maybe that’s too far,' only to tell it anyway and have it kill?"
Yes, my second gig ever I got my mic cut off and asked to leave. A harrowing experience, but funny.
You can only truly know if something is funny by saying it to a audience, a lot may not work, but I feel like the edge for jokes and subjects although riskier can lead to the biggest laughs.

How many times have you heard something inappropriate at a very inappropriate time, it’s the best type of laugh.

You’ve beaten the Gong nationwide. What’s the psychological secret to winning over a crowd that is actively looking for a reason to kick you off stage?
Oh god, I’m still learning that myself. One trick is confidence, go out strong, you need a laugh instantly and to keep their attention. And you also need to end strong.

Keep short, punchy and confident.

The Beanfeast is an intimate space. How do you approach the intimacy and bring the audience in for the comedy?
By being warm, welcoming and cheeky.  Want us all to be friends, because that’s when we can really have fun.

When you’re hand-picking the lineup for Big Bill’s, what’s the one quality a comic must have to get the Bilal Rashid seal of approval? (Besides being funny, obviously.)
Be weird!

You had a sold-out debut at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe. What was the weirdest thing you ate or did to stay sane during that month?
Yorkshire puddings filled with Nutella, I didn’t even wait for them to defrost.

In a world that seems to be getting weirder by the hour, is satire getting easier to write, or is reality starting to out-joke the comedians?
Reality is really starting to get weird, but not as weird as me.

What’s the strangest thing a member of the Woolwich crowd has ever said to you during an 'up-close interaction'?
“Nice sack” and then walked off.

What do you want people to be whispering to their friends as they walk out of Woolwich Works after a Big Bill’s Comedy Night?

WHEN’S THE NEXT ONE ?!!!!! (Whispered).

Big Bill's Comedy Night takes on Friday 20th March 2026. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.woolwich.works/events/big-bills-comedy-night-march-2026