Rhys Nicholson is a Multi-award winning Australian stand-up, author, actor and collager.
With an enormous passion for live performing and a well-earned reputation for intelligent, premium comedy, Rhys Nicholson’s work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world. A star of the stage and the screen, there is no doubting their domination of Australian comedy, and their inevitable impact on the global scene.
Rhys was hand-picked to open for comedy legend Conan O’Brien on his 2019 Australian tour, followed by their USA television debut as the stand up guest on CONAN (TBS). This was immediately followed by the recording of their third stand up special Nice People Nice Things Nice Situations. The show was released on Netflix worldwide, making Rhys one of only three Australians with a solo show on the streaming giant at that time. The show’s success additionally earned them a nomination for Best Stand Up Comedy Special at the AACTA Awards in 2021. Rhys has additionally received two AACTA Award nominations in the 2024 Awards, Best Stand Up Comedy Special for Big Queer Comedy Concert (Amazon Prime) and Best Comedy Performer for Ru Paul’s Drag Race Down Under (STAN).
Alongside a booming stand-up career, Rhys has become a favourite across our small screens. Scripted appearances include being cast as a series regular in the Sci-Fi comedy The Imperfects (NETFLIX), and a recurring role in FISK (NETFLIX). On top of this, Rhys appeared on all four seasons of Drag Race Down Under (STAN), featured as a contestant on Network 10’s Taskmaster Australia, and was invited to appear twice on the re-boot of Thank God You’re Here in 2023 & 2024.
Rhys is also a regular guest on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering (ABC), along with featuring on many of Australia’s entertainment shows, including Guy Montgomery Spelling Bee (ABC), Spicks and Specks (ABC), Question Everything (ABC), and Would I Lie To You (ABC). Additionally, viewers may have caught them hosting the 2023 & 2024 ARIA Awards (STAN), New Years Eve Broadcast (ABC), and World Pride Broadcast (ABC).
2023 saw the release of Rhys’s debut book, Dish: Spiels, Scoops, Emotional Outbursts and the Occasional Recipe, published by Penguin Random House.
Rhys has been a beloved mainstay of comedy festivals in Australia and beyond since their inaugural show, with subsequent tours through all major Australian cities, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and Canada, and an impressive trophy cabinet featuring such prestigious awards as Best of the Fest and Directors Choice at Sydney Comedy Festival, and Best International Show at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
They have enjoyed appearances on the televised Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s All Stars Gala (ABC), participating frequently with short spots, but also in the prestigious role of host.
Recent years have seen them take their critically acclaimed shows abroad where they performed at the renowned invite-only Just For Laughs Montreal, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Soho Playhouse New York, Just For Laughs Toronto and theatres throughout the United States and the UK.
Awards
2024: New Zealand Comedy Festival – Best International Show – Winner
2024: AACTA Awards for Best Comedy Performer – Nominated
2024: AACTA Awards for Best Stand-Up Special – Nominated
2022: Melbourne Comedy Festivals Most Outstanding Show – Winner
2022: Sydney Comedy Festivals Best of the Fest – Winner
2021: AACTA Awards for Best Stand-Up Comedy Special – Nominated
2019: Helpmann Award for Best Comedy —Nominated
2018: New Zealand Comedy Festival Best International Act — Winner
2018: New Zealand Comedy Guild Award — Winner
2018: Helpmann Award for Best Comedy —Nominated
2017: ARIA Award for Best Comedy Album — Nominated
2016: Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Show Award — Nominated
Here are some nice things people have said about them:
“The Comedy Festival Show with the highest number of laughs per minute…Nicolson is an absolute master of the form” ★★★★★ TimeOut
“Rhys Nicholson is at the top of his game. His economy of words is at a Jerry Seinfeld-level, with more edge and less zeroes in his bank account.” ★★★★½ – Herald Sun
“The expertly delivered rat-a-tat joke rate never flags…how remarkable it is to see someone so entirely in command of their work and style ” ★★★★½ – The Age
“Sharp focus on punchlines that few could match” ★★★★ Chortle
“This is a genuinely great stand-up comedian at work – in total command of his material and audience – and it’s awe-inspiring to watch”- ★★★★★ – TimeOut
“Rhys Nicholson at the top of his game. His economy of words is at a Jerry Seinfeld-level, with more edge and less zeroes in his bank account.” ★★★★½ – The Herald Sun (Aus)
“There’s not a single moment that doesn’t work, nor any story that falls flat. Nicholson is truly at the top of his game” ★★★★★ – The NZ Herald
“Sheer comedy brilliance” ★★★★ The List (UK)
Shows
HUGE BIG PARTY CONGRATULATIONS (2024)
RHYS! RHYS! RHYS! (2020 – 2022)
Live at The Athenaeum (Recorded Special 2020)
Nice People, Nice Things, Nice Situations (2019)
Seminal (2018)
I’m Fine (2017)
Bona Fide (2016)
Forward (2015)
Eurgh (2014)
Dawn of a New Error (2013)
Almost a Person (2012)
Social Liability (2011)
Film & TV
2026 – The Weekly (Writer & Segment Guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – Traders Aus Contestant (pending release date – Network 10)
2025 – Drag Race Down Under VS The World (Judge) – (pending release date)
2025 – The Weekly (Writer & Segment Guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – The Yearly (Writer & Segment Guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – Big Backyard Quiz – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – Portrait Artist of the Year – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – A Bite to Eat with Alice – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – A House of Games (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – Eve of Destruction (Guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – Crime Time (guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2025 – Have You Benn Paying Attention (Panelist) Network 10
2025 – Spicks and Specks (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2024 – Taskmaster Australia (Contestant) – Network 10
2024 – After Midnight (Panellist) – CBS (USA)
2024 – Thank God You’re Here (Contestant) – Network 10
2024 – FISK Season 2 – ABC / ABC iview
2024 – Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee (Contestant) – ABC / ABC iview
2024 – RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under S2 (Judge) – Stan
2023 – New Years Eve Live Broadcast (Host) – ABC / ABC iview
2023 – Mardi Gras World Pride Opening Night Broadcast (Host) – ABC
2023 – Thank God You’re Here (Contestant) – Network 10
2023 – Question Everything (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2023 – Spicks and Specks (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2022 – RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under S2 (Judge) – Stan
2022 – The Imperfects S1 (Dr Sarkov) – Netflix
2022 – Melbourne International Comedy Festival All Stars Gala (Host) – ABC / ABC iview
2022 – Would I Lie To You (Panelist) – Network 10
2022 – Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked (Guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2022 – Patriot Brains S1 (Panelist) – SBS
2022 – Spicks and Specks (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2022 – The Weekly (Writer & Segment Guest) – ABC / ABC iview
2021 – RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under S1 (Judge) – Stan
2021 – Why Are You Like This? (Emcee)– ABC / ABC iview & Netflix
2021 – Spicks and Specks (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2021 – Fisk (Male Assistant) – ABC / ABC iview
2020 – The Weekly (Writer & Segment Guest) – ABC & iView
2020 – The Stand Up Sketch Show (Performer) – ITV UK
2020 – Just For Laughs Stand Up Series (Performer) – Network 10
2020 – Rhys Nicholson Live At The Athenaeum (Writer & Performer) – Netflix
2019 – CONAN (Guest Performer) – TBS USA
2019 – Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (Performer) – Network 10
2020 – Just For Laughs Stand Up Series (Performer) – Network 10
2019 – The Stand Up Show – CBC The Letdown (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview & Netflix
2019 – Roast Battle (Performer) – Comedy Central UK
2019 – Live From the BBC (Performer) – BBC
2019 – 7 Days (Panelist) – NZ
2018 – 7 Days (Panelist) – NZ
2018 – Hughesy We Have A Problem (Panelist)
2018 – Talkin’ Bout Your Generation (Panelist)
2018 – Just For Laughs Stand Up Series (Performer) – Comedy Channel & CH 10
2018 – Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2017 – Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2017 – The Yearly – ABCT
2017 – Comedy Up Late (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2017 – Cram – Network 10
2016 – Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2016 – Comedy Up Late (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2015 – Comedy Up Late (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2014 – Comedy Up Late (Performer) – ABC / ABC iview
2014 – GAYCRASHERS – ABC / ABC iview
2014 – Sydney Comedy Festival Cracker Night (Performer) – Comedy Channel
2014 – Dirty Laundry (Panelist) – ABC / ABC iview
2013 – The Feed – SBS