Raul Kohli

Raul Kohli is a British stand-up comedian and broadcaster hailing from Newcastle upon Tyne, with an artistic voice that blends sharp political satire, introspection, and surreal storytelling. He was born to a Hindu Indian father and a Sikh Singaporean mother, growing up in a culturally rich environment in the North East of England. His diverse heritage—and union with a Pakistani Muslim best friend during his youth—deeply shaped his worldview and comedic identity
Kohli initially performed under the name "Rahul Kohli," but later adopted "Raul" to differentiate himself from the actor of the same name. He burst onto the British comedy scene with his Edinburgh Fringe debut, “Newcastle Brown Male,” in 2016, which garnered critical acclaim and was selected as a top Fringe show by BBC Radio 4, The Huffington Post, and The Skinny.
Known for his improvisational agility, Kohli performed a fully improvised stand-up hour at Edinburgh for four consecutive years. He continued to attract accolades over the years: in 2017, he won the prestigious Hackney Empire New Act of the Year (NATYS) award—an honor previously received by comedians like Stewart Lee and Lee Mack.
In 2024, his show “Raul Britannia” earned a nomination for Best Show at the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards, affirming his growth as a leading voice in contemporary comedy.
Beyond the stage, Kohli has extended his comedic talents into broadcasting. He co-hosts the podcast Tyne Travel, A Comedian’s History Of The North‑East with Mike Milligan and created Comic Sanskrit for the BBC Asian Network, a show blending his cultural roots with sharp humour.
He also wrote and starred in his own BBC radio show “How We Ruined the Internet”, and appeared on BBC Asian Network performing stand-up.
On television, he was a member of Channel 4’s presenting team during the England–Bosnia and Herzegovina friendly in June 2024, and has been featured as a football guest on BT Sport—a fitting role for a passionate Newcastle United supporter.
Demonstrating his global appeal, Raul has performed internationally at venues such as Laugh Canvas India, Comedyhuis Netherlands, and the Utrecht International Comedy Festival.
In 2025, he toured New Zealand with his show “A British Hindu’s Guide to the Universe”, blending Eastern philosophy, comedy, and personal reflection. Theatreview praised the show for its honesty and engaging exploration of identity and spirituality.
Raul Britannia—his 2024 Edinburgh show—was described as “a celebration of modern multicultural Britain.” Drawing from personal history of colonization, partition, and racism, he balances criticism with affection for British culture. As he puts it: “Still… the people are alright, & Sunday Roasts are class!”
His comedic approach is distinctive: a fusion of smart political insight and storytelling. The Scotsman described him as “a powerful, passionate, open‑minded, intelligent voice. It is superb political comedy and commentary,” while others have called him “a powerhouse” and praised his “erudite genius”.
Reflecting on his early struggles—like performing to empty rooms—even the harshest early reviews now serve him as comedic material: a 2-star review calling him “the worst comedy they had ever seen” has since become poster-worthy as his reputation soared.
Raul Kohli continues to headline shows across the UK, including his touring show Raul Britannia, which appeared in venues from Chorley and Bristol to Harrogate, Leicester, York, and Edinburgh in mid‑2025.