Whether performing in French or English, Mike Ward always delivers on his reputation for bold, edgy and hilarious comedy. He performs in front of audiences at major venues in Quebec, sells out shows at international festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe and the Montreux Comedy Festival, and cracks wise on his two popular podcasts, Mike Ward sous écoute and 2 Drink Minimum. Ward developed his provocative, no-holds-barred humor at clubs in the ‘90s before breaking through at Quebec’s two biggest comedy showcases. In 2002, Ward won the Nez d’Or for best newcomer at the Quebec City Comedy Festival, and the Révélation prize at Just for Laughs as the festival’s breakout star. Along with his appearance on such TV shows as the Musique Plus mockumentary hit L’Gros Show, the awards helped make Ward one of Canada’s most popular comedy performers. Known for saying what other comedians dared not to, he continued to win new fans (and sometimes attract controversies) with DVD releases like 2013’s Mike Ward s’eXpose and 2018’s Infamous. His series of comedy albums include 2016’s Pedophile Jokes & Death Threats. Launched in 2015, Mike Ward sous écoute has become one of the world’s most listened-to French-language comedy podcasts.

Mike Ward Background

Born in 1973 in Quebec City, Ward gained fluency in two languages thanks to a household led by his French-speaking mother and Anglo father. Though he jokes that his vocabulary is poor in both languages, his caustic wit was clear to French and English audiences in Quebec as he developed his comedy skills in the ‘90s. In 2002, Ward had a major breakthrough when he won newcomer awards by the Quebec City Comedy Festival and Just for Laughs. His momentum continued with appearances on TV shows such as the Musique Plus hit L’Gros Show and DVD specials such as 2008’s Haïssable and 2018’s Infamous. His comedy albums include Pedophile Jokes & Death Threats, a characteristically edgy showcase of his un-PC brand of comedy that was released in 2016. A winner of Olivier awards for best podcast, Mike Ward sous écoute has earned the comedian countless new fans in Quebec and internationally. Its English-language counterpart 2 Drink Minimum has done the same with Anglo audiences.