How does Last One Laughing UK work? The rules of the no-laughing game, explained
Ten comedians. One room. Six hours. And one rule that goes against everything they've built their careers on: do not laugh.
That's the engine behind Last One Laughing UK, the Prime Video hit hosted by Jimmy Carr and Roisin Conaty that premiered in March 2025 and quickly became the most-watched show on Prime Video's UK top-10 chart — knocking off Reacher, which had held the top spot for over six months. Here's exactly how the game works.
The basic rules
Ten of Britain's best-known comedians are locked in a large set — kitchen, sofas, a small stage — for a strict six hours, tasked with making each other laugh while never cracking themselves. Carr and Conaty watch from a separate control room, monitoring every face on camera. A laugh, a smirk, even a suppressed smile counts.
- Yellow card — your first laugh. A formal warning, handed out on the spot.
- Red card — your second laugh. You're out of the room and into the viewing gallery with the hosts.
- Late-game twist — as time runs low, a single laugh can earn an automatic red card. No warnings, no mercy.
The last comedian standing wins the LOL UK Trophy and money for their chosen charity. If more than one player survives the full six hours, the tiebreaker goes to whoever caused the most laughs.
The joker and other twists
Contestants aren't just left to improvise. Each player has a "joker" — a prepared mini stand-up routine they can perform on the stage at any time, and which everyone else is forced to sit and watch. The hosts can also phone in and order someone to play their joker on demand.
On top of that, Carr throws in head-to-head battles, group games, and surprise celebrity guests who wander in unbound by any of the rules — free to be as funny as they like while the players sit there dying inside.
Where the format comes from
The show is the British edition of a format born in Japan as Documental, since adapted in more than 20 territories including Australia, Germany, Mexico, and Ireland. The UK version is produced by Banijay UK labels Initial and Zeppotron.
Who has won so far?
Bob Mortimer took the first season, breaking Richard Ayoade with a single joke in the finale. Ayoade was gracious in defeat, telling the Daily Mail in April 2025:
"I had nothing and he was on a horse opposite me with a pocket full of material."
Season 2 ran from March 19 to April 2, 2026, with Mortimer returning to defend his crown against a new lineup including David Mitchell, Alan Carr, Diane Morgan, and Sam Campbell. According to co-host Conaty, when the champ walked back in unannounced, the other comedians scattered like pigeons.
Prime Video has already confirmed what's next: a Halloween special later in 2026, and a third season in 2027.