Southport Comedy Festival returns to Victoria Park

Southport Comedy Festival is back promising comedy fans big laughs over the next fortnight.

The annual event opened on Friday and runs until October 13 in a special festival marquee in the town’s Victoria Park with a packed line-up featuring a mixture of household names and rising stars.

Among this year’s programme are appearances by Jason Manford, Mark Thomas, Ben Elton, Jo Cauldfield, Jason Byrne and Ria Lina, with many shows already sold out.

Tonight, Big Comedy UK presents Best of the Fest with Cauldfield and Hal Cruttenden on the same bill for one night promising lots of giggles.

Liverpool legend Mick Miller takes centre stage on October 1 in a sold-out solo show, while Dan Nightingale – of smash-hit Have a Word podcast - and Fiends (read into that what you will!) take over the festival tent on October 2 and Henning Wehn presents his Acid Wehn stand-up show in a sold-out appearance on October 3.

Big Comedy Presents is back with more Best of the Fest on October 4, when the line-up features The Raymond and Mr Timpkins Revue, Katie Tracey and Patrick Monahan along with host Brendan Riley.

Tickets are limited for a fundraising 80s Disco Bingo Night on Saturday, October 5 with proceeds going to Southport Flower Show.

And the Southport New Comedian of the Year grand final, hosted by Riley, takes place on October 6.

The second week of the festival opens on October 8 with a sold-out ‘work in progress’ show from Jason Manford, while it’s also returns only (join the waiting list) for Ben Elton who comes to the festival on October 9 with his live show Authentic Stupidity, and Jimeoin on October 10.

Meanwhile tickets are selling fast for Rich Hall Live on October 11 and for Jason Byrne’s No Show on October 12.

And the festival, which is organised by Brendan Riley and Val Brady and presented in association with Halliwell Jones MINI, comes to a finish on October 13 with the final Best of the Fest night starring Paul Sinha and Ria Lina.

Southport Comedy Festival runs until October 13. Full details and tickets HERE