Leicester Participants 2016

Bernard Szczech

Director, IBM Client Innovation Centre – Leicester

"When Geoff suggested that I volunteer for the Challenge, frankly I was incredibly nervous. But then I thought "what the heck (or some other unprintable word), let's go for it". And so I am. I must be mad. I have no idea how I'm going to get through this, but I'm sure I will. And it's all in an excellent cause."

Richard Osborn

Partner and Regional Office Head, Real Estate, Weightmans LLP

“I always like a challenge, particularly when it is for a good cause, and I am not sure that there are many more challenging things than stand-up, particularly in front of an audience of demanding Leicester business professionals! I attended the event last year and all the contestants were amazing, so there should be no shortage of people to go to for advice for this year.”

Professor Kevin Schurer

Historian, genealogist and statistician who played a key role in the discovery of King Richard III

“Surely this can’t really be too different from lecturing – both share about equal probability of being incomprehensible, enlightening and entertaining”

David Nicholls

Better-IT Limited and Regional Chair for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland for the Federation of Small Business

“Doing stand up has always interested me, but I've been far to scared to do anything about it. Sometimes in life you have to step outside your comfort zone and my goodness, will this be outside my comfort zone!! Of course; there is also the potential novelty of people laughing *with* me rather than just *at* me to look forward too... maybe!”

Carl Mifflin

Partner at Howes Percival

“Due to being far too unfit to run a marathon (or even a half-marathon), afraid of heights (which rules out bungee jumping and abseiling) and going too grey to spend November growing a poor excuse for a moustache, I have succumbed to peer pressure following last year's Stand Up Challenge and agreed to subject myself to potential ridicule by attempting to be funny for 5 minutes. Terrifying!”

Duncan Clarke

C S Ellis Group Ltd

“I've always fancied myself as a bit of a funnyman and, once in a while, I even make people laugh! I've spent enough time watching comedians at shows and on the TV and there's never going to be a better opportunity than this to give it a go for myself. I mean, how hard can it really be?!!”

Jeanne Rae

“It's payback time. I'd like to do something to really embarrass my children and prove those friends right who said I would never amount to anything. And I'd like to do it all whilst I still have my own teeth and can (sometimes) remember what I went downstairs for. Oh, and Big Difference does make a difference so they can keep the cash!!”

Robert Bracken

Leicester Racecourse

"Firstly it is for charity so that’s self explanatory! I’ve always fancied having a go at standup. As I do think I’m very funny and some comedians make a living currently and are rubbish, it cant be that hard?"

Mhairi Morris

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at De Montfort University

"I decided to sign up as I fancied the challenge, and pretty much dared my husband to join me: I expect he'll wipe the floor with me! It will be fun to learn how to add some good clean humour into my lectures too. I'm extremely nervous, naturally, but I'm also really excited by the prospect of....well....tumbleweed rolling across the stage behind me...."

Andy Morris

Employability Mentoring Officer - Student & Academic Services at De Montfort University

"Well I turned 40 this year and wanted to celebrate with a string of challenges... It seems like a good idea so let's do this. Mirth almost certainly guaranteed, but fear and trepidation are the flavours of the month right now. The mic beckons..."