How you can catch the comedian from Cheetham Hill who went viral for his amazing slo-mo impressions

You may recognize Karl Porter as the viral sensation behind the side-splitting slo-mo football goal celebrations.

With his comedic talent now reaching audiences worldwide, Karl is set to return to his roots with a performance at the Creatures Comedy Festival later this month.

Hailing from Manchester, Karl’s background in acting adds a unique flair to his comedy, creating hilarious vignettes accompanied by incredible facial expressions that are sure to leave you in stitches.

His relatable humour and dynamic stage presence have quickly made him a fan favourite.

If you’re looking for more you can check out his Instagram here.

Karl, who is from Cheetham Hill and who studied at Salford University, is teaming up with Ben Silver for their upcoming shows at the Creatures Comedy Festival and a highly anticipated run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

This duo will no-doubt deliver some unforgettable performances that will knock it out of the park.

You can find out more about the Creatures Comedy Festival here.

As Karl prepares for these exciting events, we caught up with him to delve into his journey, inspirations, and what fans can look forward to in his shows.

Karl Porter – comedian

“I did the Salford comedy practice at Salford University about 12 years ago,” Karl recalled.

“I did a course there for three years. I was originally into acting before that but didn’t pursue it. Things sort of went on and one of my mates in 2019 suggested I try and give comedy a real go.”

Karl’s roots run deep in Manchester, being from, and studying in the city.

“Originally, I’m from Cheetham Hill – I cut my teeth in the various venues across the city.

“The Frog and Bucket was the first kind of club where you go and do the gong show.

“You try to last five minutes, and I luckily won it the first time. From there, it was about building your way through the comedy clubs in Manchester and Liverpool, trying to get noticed.”

And noticed, he was.

If you’re on the internet or any social media – you will have likely seen Karl’s incredible slow-mo goal celebration that catapulted him onto screens around the world for its hilarity. And accuracy.

You can check that out here

Although he was welcome on the Manchester scene, not all of the gigs were smooth sailing.

Karl recounts a particularly rough night in Clayton.

“I did a gig there, and a guy asked me to perform for his birthday. I was with a few other comics, including Dan Tiernan, who you might have heard of.  I only had five minutes of material, but he wanted an hour!

“I tried to explain – but he was very threatening – they were saying they’d chuck us through the window.

“There were a lot of drugs around; it was a dark, dingy club.

“But as a comic, you do those gigs to get where you want to be.”

Manchester as a comedy destination

Despite these ‘interesting’ gigs, Karl was quick to emphasise the supportive nature of Manchester’s comedy scene.

“Manchester is the best place for the circuit right now.

“There are festivals, main comedy clubs like Frog and Bucket, and nightly shows.

“Unlike other cities, Manchester has consistent comedy events. I live in Blackpool now, where the Comedy Station is only active on weekends. But in Manchester, something’s always happening.

“It’s a great city to be a comic in, and there’s loads of brilliant comics around too.”

When Karl Porter went viral

Karl’s rise to viral fame has opened doors nationwide.

“In London, where the viral clip was shot, I’m performing again this Friday.

“London’s tough; you often need to win competitions multiple times to get regular spots and more time.

“Sometimes you even need to bring your own audience. But I’ve been lucky.”

Getting recognised in public

Being recognised on the streets is a new experience for Karl.

“It’s still humbling. I’m just a normal kid from a Manchester council estate. When someone asks for a picture, it takes me back.

“I never take it for granted. Even when I’m out with my wife or friends, it’s mad that people recognise me.”

Karl’s comedy, though often centred on sports, including a hilarious clip of him impersonating the stoic Carl Ancelotti, is diverse.

“My stand-up is based on my life experiences—growing up with my brothers, university parties, being married.

“I’m a physical comedian; I act things out. I recently got married, so I’ve added a new bit about what it’s like to be married.

“It’s all based on my life experience – and naturally, it’s all hilarious.”

Karl said he was really excited about his upcoming shows with fellow comedian Ben Silver.

“We’re performing at the Creatures Comedy Festival from July 19th to 28th.

“Our show, ‘Two Sick Guys,’ gives an insight into our lives. We’ll be on stage on July 20th at a quarter to seven.”

Karl had huge praise about the Manchester comedy scene, and also some of the great comedians out and about performing in the North West.

He told us some of his favourites: “Jamie Hutchinson is one of the best right now. (check out his Instagram here)

“Brennan Rees and Phil Chapman are also fantastic. I’ve supported Brennan on tour and watched him since I started. They are all awesome – and that’s just scratching the surface really. There are some brilliant audiences about.”

Tickets to see Karl Porter and Ben Silver at Creatures Comedy Festival

As Karl prepares for his performances, he’s keen to invite audiences to join him and Ben Silver.

“We’re also taking our show to the Edinburgh Fringe from August 13th to 25th. If you’re heading up there, you should definitely come and see our show.”

You can buy tickets to see Karl Perform at the Creatures Comedy Festival which takes place at Creatures Comedy Club in the basement of Corner Boy (21 Hilton St) in the Northern Quarter from 19th to 28th July 2024 by clicking here.

You can get tickets to his show at the Edinburgh Fringe by clicking here.