The phrase ‘After Dinner Speaker’ is used to cover a wide range of After Dinner Entertainment, but what is an After Dinner Speaker?
An After Dinner Speaker is someone who will join your event from start to finish. Sitting at the dinner to chat to guests, speaking typically after the main course, a good After Dinner Speaker will capture your audience’s attention from the start, with funny anecdotal stories, or moving motivational speeches – the contents depending on the event and your requirements.
After Dinner speakers are not necessarily household names, they might be local Radio hosts, Sports people, Barristers, Doctors or Entrepreneurs, the right choice of After Dinner speaker is so important – the wrong speaker can lead to a bored, talking, distracted audience, whilst the right speaker will leave your audience captivated and talking about your event for months to come.
When you call Prime Performers our agents will listen to your requirements to find the right speaker for your event, we consider your audience, the type of event, whether you want to deliver a message or just entertain your audience.
We’ve picked a few of our favourite speakers here, call us for a more tailored list for your event.
Gyles Brandreth
Gyles holds the Guiness World Record for the longest ever After Dinner Speech at tweleve and a half hours! Whilst we wouldn’t expect your guests to sit for that long if you booked Gyles you will find your audience riveted to their seats for half an hour or so. Gyles is a wonderful, witty guest who will tailor his speech to suit your event.
Joanna Lumley
Joanna is truly a National Treasure, she has been a star on stage and screen both big and small since the 1960s from The Avengers to Absolutely Fabulous, Via Pink Panther and Paddington! Joanna has presented Travel programmes, guested on Chat Shows and fought for the rights of the underdog. She is a super guest at any event charming and funny.
Hire Joanna Lumley | Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Clive Myrie
BBC News Anchor, Clive is also the host of long running BBC Show Mastermind. He has presented documentaries and appeared as the guest host on Have I Go News for You, Richard Osmans House of Games and on Lee Macks’ Team in Would I Lie to You. Clive will see his first autobiographical book published in 2023. A wonderful After Dinner Speaker and top table guest.
Hire Clive Myrie | Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Rev Richard Coles
From 1980s Pop Star to Radio 4 broadcaster, Richard entertains with wonderful stories of his journey from excesses of the 1980’s to his inauguration as a Vicar, his short time on Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off. A regular on Have I Got News for You, Richard is a super Top Table Guest and After Dinner Speaker.
Rev Richard Coles – Prime Performers (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Wynne Evans
Wynne is known and loved as the Opera Singer Gio behind the Go Compare Television Adverts. A Welsh Radio Broadcaster Wynne has his own show on BBC Wales, he is a professional Opera Singer having appeared for the English and Welsh National Opera. Wynne is a lovely After Dinner Speaker, and might even be tempted to break into Song!
Hire Wynne Evans | Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Martin Bayfield
Standing 6ft10” Martin Bayfield cuts and imposing figure, as well as being one of the most successful Rugby Players on the English side, Martin has also been a Policeman and Robbie Coltrane’s body double as the Harry Potter Character Hagrid. A super After Dinner Speaker, with impeccable comic timing, Martin is a joy for any guests not just rugby fans.
Hire Martin Bayfield | Sports Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Ed Balls
Before he found fame with fans of Strictly Come Dancing where his Gangnam Style dance will never be forgotten! Ed was more seriously known as Politician for over two decades serving as Labour Shadow Chancellor, life after politics has seen Ed present a Documentary on Trumps’ America, appear in The Great Sport Relief Bake Off, as well Have I Got News For You, QI and Would I Lie to You. Ed’s is an engaging, entertaining After Dinner Speaker.
Hire Ed Balls | Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Steve Davis
Steve dominated world snooker during the 1980s, winning six world titles, and holding the world number one ranking for seven consecutive seasons. Steve was known for being dedicated, steady, focussed, mechanical, practical, consistent, a no-nonsense attitude which led to Spitting Image programme naming him Mr ‘Interesting’. An eloquent and ironically interesting speaker, Steve is one of the best After Dinner Speakers on the circuit.
Hire Steve Davis | DJ | Thundermuscle | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan’s impressive career saw him become one of the best loved characters of the Sport. After a successful football career, he turned his hand to management overseeing five roller coaster years at Newcastle United through the 1990’s as well manager of England. Hard work, dedication and tenacity took him to the pinnacle of his sport, Kevin is now a pundit, covering FA Cup finals and World Cups. Funny, warm and engaging he is a perfect After Dinner Speaker.
Hire Kevin Keegan | Football Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)
Ben Fogle
Ben first appeared on our screens when he starred in the BBC’s Castaway, marooned on an island in the Outer Hebrides for a year. Since then, he has gone on to Climb Mount Everest, rowed across the Atlantic with James Cracknell, Raced across Antarctica to the South Pole and driven in Peru with Hugh Dennis – as well as writing 9 Best Selling Books! Ben has also presented numerous television programmes. A wonderful After Dinner Speaker, inspirational, funny, and just really good company.
Hire Ben Fogle | Speaker | Prime Performers Booking Agent (primeperformersagency.co.uk)