Darren Maule MC’s legendary KNQ comedy lineup
'Kings & Queens of Comedy' lit up the Durban ICC on April 5, with Darren Maule hosting a legendary
night featuring South Africa’s top comedians — and a special backstage
moment for a Grade 10 prodigy.
If you weren’t at the Durban ICC on April 5, please take a moment to question your life choices.
The 13th edition of 'Kings & Queens of Comedy' was nothing short of legendary.
East Coast Radio’s Breakfast king, Darren Maule, was the epic host who did the absolute most.
He didn’t just host, he commanded the stage with the ease of a seasoned pro. He delivered his punchlines with precision, only decades of comedy and MC experience can bring.
He kept the laughs rolling, the energy flowing, and even got the crowd to sing 'Happy Birthday' to an unsuspecting Anita Padayachi, who didn’t expect 3,000 strangers to join her party.
Many comedians regard Darren to be the best comedy MC in the country, and we totally agree!
Let’s talk about the lineup. And no, this wasn’t your average wedding table seating chart.
We’re talking about a comedy Avengers-level roster: Trevor Gumbi, Joey Rasdien, Chris Forrest, Darren Wackhead Simpson, Annalakshmi, Angel Campey, Muthu Murugan, Alfred Adriaan, and the legendary duo of Conrad Koch and Chester Missing.
From the jump, it was punchline after punchline, laugh after laugh.
These comedic heavyweights had us howling with their tales of everyday chaos, relationship struggles, suburban mysteries, and… bathroom etiquette?
Trevor Gumbi, for instance, had us questioning everything we know about women and their toilet habits.
According to him, women only do number twos at dawn, when men are in dreamland and unlikely to hear the sounds of destruction.
Joey Rasdien took us back to the dark days of COVID-19, when the biggest debate wasn’t politics or pineapple beer – it was Pfizer vs Johnson & Johnson.
His take? “You expect me to trust a vaccine from the same company that makes baby powder?” Honestly, fair.
He also reminded us how adulting is a scam. One minute you’re dodging flu, the next your appendix is bursting for attention. Wild.
Behind the scenes was another wholesome side story.
Darren and Anna invited Grade 10 student Ben Ginn from Northwood Boys’ High School, who got a front-row seat to experience the world of big-time production.
Ben isn’t your average Grade 10 learner. He’s a senior member of Northwood’s 40-strong tech team, responsible for running sound, lighting, and projections for every school event (from assemblies to musicals).
With over 1,000 hours under his belt, a Scroll to his name, and eyes set on becoming team captain next year, Ben lives and breathes production.
On the night of 'Kings & Queens of Comedy', he was in his element, working with the pros from Insane Sound & Lighting and soaking up every second of the action.
Ben’s dreams were fully activated, and he loved every moment of it. It was also his very first time at the ICC and his first-ever comedy show.
Not a bad combo, right?
This year's 'Kings & Queens of Comedy' was a roaring success. Durbanites laughed until their cheeks hurt, the comedians brought the heat, and the production was nothing short of spectacular.
As 'Kings & Queens of Comedy' celebrates its 13th year, Darren marks his 13th time hosting the iconic event, reinforcing his status as the heart and soul of Durban’s comedy scene.
Check out this wholesome wrap-up of the entire experience on Darren’s Instagram page.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet.
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your OpenView decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
· TikTok