Addison Cresswell

Addison Cresswell (28 June 1960 – 23 December 2013 ) was a British comedy talent agent and producer. "arguably the most powerful man in UK comedy" for two decades His father, Peter Cresswell, was the dean of arts at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His younger brother, Luke, became a founder of the dance and percussion group Stomp.

As Entertainments Officer at Brighton Polytechnic, he booked bands such as U2, Killing Joke, Joy Division, New Order and Madness. He was able to live off the money he made. It was the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's first venue for stand-up comedy. They found the venue - the Abercraig Lounge - simply by walking round Edinburgh. The landlord was initially sceptical, but they persuaded him to show them the basement function room and knew it was going to work. Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, and in 1991 co-founded the independent TV and radio production company, Open Mike Productions, with comedian Jack Dee. He organised the Channel 4 Comedy Gala annually in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Cresswell is survived by his wife, Shelley.