hello there.

my name’s tom and i’m an australian comedian doing his best.

i used to cohost the breakfast show on triple j,  i hosted my own late-night tv show tonightly with tom ballard and i regularly travel all over the world performing stand-up comedy.

welcome to my website. here you can find out a little bit more about me, read my blog, check out any upcoming gigs i may have, check out my free podcast, and just generally have a good time.

if at any point you feel bored by this site’s content and would prefer the excitement and giddy thrills of youtube or online pornography, i suggest opening some new tabs and having the best of both worlds.

cheers.

Latest News

BE FUNNY CHALLENGE (IMPOSSIBLE) | 2026 TOUR

Posted on by

As seen on Fisk, Deadloch, Tonightly, Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee and Deal Or No Deal (for some reason). As heard on podcast Serious Danger.

After a year away from touring, doing nothing but being very nice and uncontroversial, Australia’s Special Envoy For Comedy Tom Ballard returns in 2026 with a new show packed with heaps of jokes about all the stuff.

You should definitely come along. After all, the world is extremely normal right now and everyone’s getting along really well, so why don’t we all just get together and have a nice laugh about it, you know?

What’s the worst that could happen????

Nominee – Melbourne Comedy Festival Award 2023

Nominee – Best Comedy, Melbourne Fringe 2023

“One of the slickest hours of stand-up I’ve ever seen and packing a proper comedy punch.”  Adam Hills

“Fierce and funny…Ballard is a dynamo – a whirling, toe-curling bundle of energy, who is as politically powerful as he is fantastically funny.” ★★★★½ Arts Hub

“A relentless whirl of opinion, silliness, and increasingly bad-taste jokes against those who most deserve it.” ★★★★½ Chortle [UK]

“Absolutely packed with elite gags” ★★★★ The Scotsman [UK]

“To call Ballard a comedian is being kind…..All Ballard has is a potty mouth,  and being from the demographic their ABC loves.” hair stew, Daily Mail commenter

 

BOOK NOW!

Who’s Afraid of a Joke? – Wheeler Centre Panel

Posted on by

A host of Melbourne International Comedy Festival comics gather to explore how comedy survives, thrives and occasionally lands a punch on authoritarianism.

The powerful often say they have a sense of humour. This turns out to be true – provided the joke is about someone else.

From public denunciations to legal action and intimidation, comedians across the world are increasingly required to work within narrowing spaces, where the right punchline at the expense of the wrong politician carries the risk of personal and professional consequences. When laughter is policed this closely, what does it reveal about the strength – and fragility – of power?

Join host Tom Ballard alongside leading comic voices Bahaa Dabbagh, Leon Filewood and Sam Jay for a timely conversation on the role and power of comedy in an age of rising authoritarianism.

This event was recorded on Saturday 28 March 2026 at The Wheeler Centre.

It was presented in partnership with Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Featured music is ‘Golden Hour’ by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.

Content warning: This episode contains strong course language.

Support the Wheeler Centre: https://www.wheelercentre.com/support-us/donate