All this month we are celebrating acts that you need to look out for in 2026. Today we speak to a brand new improv group starting this year meet The BLANK who BLANKED me!
Hello tell us all about yourself?
Steve: We’re The BLANK who BLANKED me, a new improvised romance pastiche from some of the people behind Murder, She Didn’t Write!
Emily: Steve has been with Murder for over a decade, and I joined in 2022. We’ve been inspired by our love (and sometimes bewilderment) of romance stories and exploring intimacy through improv to start a new show!
How was 2025 for you?
Steve: Big and overwhelming! We’ve been on tour with Murder for most of the year with a proper production company behind us. It’s been a big gear change in the number of gigs and the size of the venues, and my brain is protesting because it’s still a bit stuck on improv being a fun thing I do with my friends.
Emily: For me, it’s been about figuring out the kind of improv that brings me joy. I love performing when I have chemistry with the people on stage, and making choices that I know will delight the other person. 2025 has really been about getting back to that, and following what opportunities come my way!
What was the top 3 highlights for you?
Steve: Performing on the main stage at the Bristol Old Vic this November was pretty memorable. We’re (mostly) local to Bristol so it felt like a real landmark moment to have our silly show treading such historic boards.
Emily: I also got to perform at The Duchess Theatre on the West End, with a lot of my family in the audience. It was so special to be able to achieve something that I’d never even dreamed possible!
Steve: Trying to do our show on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic, in such bad weather that nobody could walk a straight line across the stage and with our pianist throwing up from seasickness right before we went on. Somehow it ended up being a really good show in spite of everything.
What was the key lesson you learnt from last year?
Emily: To treat every show with the same respect for the audience, whether you’re performing in front of a thousand people or eight. Which were both real crowd sizes I performed to last year.
Steve: Patience and communication. It’s way too easy to get carried away with something new and shiny and forget the fundamentals!
What are your plans for 2026?
Steve: Survive, and throw whatever energy I have left into making new stuff.
Emily: I want to grow as a performer whilst still having a spirit of fun. To that end, I’m really looking forward to exploring our new format with The Blank Who Blanked Me. We’ve got shows lined up in January and March, and I am so excited to explore a genre I love with some of my favourite improvisers.
What other shows are you looking forward to watching this year?
Emily: Bristol has an amazing improv scene, and I’m looking forward to seeing Up the Antics and Bish Bosh Bash in the New Year. But outside of improv I have booked to see Cynthia Erivo in Dracula and I refuse to be calm about it.
Steve: I missed out on seeing Operation Mincemeat last year, and everyone was raving about it in the most annoying way. I’m looking forward to seeing it this year so I can finally catch up.
What styles do you hope to see more of in improv this year?
Steve: I always have plenty of appetite for weird idiosyncratic stuff. I sometimes get the impression watching shows that they’ve made it that way because they felt they had to, rather than because they wanted it to be that way. I want to see more weird little improvisers making the weird little shows that bring them joy.
What improv act is your ones to watch in 2026 and why?
Emily: I lived in Nottingham for ten years, so I always love to see what is going on in the improv scene there. They’ve got the Robin Hood Improv Festival every year, as well as community groups like MissImp, Loose Goose and Little John Improv. There’s exciting new work popping up all the time, with shows like The Secret Show and Get Your House In Order. Plus, my pals at Rhymes Against Humanity are debuting a new show in January called ‘Predicted: A Wickedly Good Parody.’ So I guess to answer your question, my improv act to watch in 2026 is the city of Nottingham!
Do you have any new years resolutions? If so what are they?
Steve: I don’t make new year’s resolutions often, because I know I’m not very disciplined about sticking to them
Emily: I think my resolution will be to ensure that I rest so that I have the energy to honor my commitments. And also, to get as many smooches on stage as possible.
Are you on social media? If so how can people find out more about you?
Emily: You can find us at @theblankwhoblankedme on Facebook and Instagram!
Three words why people should come and see you this year?
Emily: Romance, romps, raunchiness.
Steve: Hilarious Horny Hijinks
Welcome to The Phoenix Remix 