Friday 2nd Oct
Jason Byrne: 30 Years Byrning
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £30 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Jason Byrne: 30 Years Byrning
Jason Byrne is back and “Byrning” brighter than ever, celebrating 30 glorious years of stand-up with his brand-new show, 30 Years Byrning.
Byrne delivers a riotous night of high-energy storytelling, surreal tangents and unstoppable laughter. From razor-sharp observations to gloriously unhinged audience interaction, brave improvisation, that has made Jason a festival favourite for three decades.
This anniversary special is a hilarious return to props and stunts of the past decades, a fearless leap forward and a masterclass in pure comic mayhem.
Do not blow it by missing this show, get tickets early, it makes sense.
‘Outright King of Live Comedy’ The Times
‘Unmissable’ Evening Standard
‘Full on, double-up, gasping-for-oxygen hilarious’ Chortle
Saturday 3rd Oct
Paul Sinha: 2 Sinha Lifetime
Matinee Show
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £20 +BF
Door: 2:00pm
Show: 3:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Paul Sinha: 2 Sinha Lifetime
Paul returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 after a dramatic 2023 that saw him booking a ticket to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary half-way through his run.
The autumn that followed became a flurry of tests, scans and finally the surgery which set him on the road to recovery.
With no small debt to the NHS, Paul celebrated his 30th anniversary in stand-up last year. He’s delighted to be touring his latest Edinburgh Fringe show around the UK.
As seen on: The Chase, Taskmaster, QI and Would I Lie To You?
‘12 must-see comedy shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – He may entertain as a Chaser and impress as a quizzer, but he truly shines on stage…. an absolute worldie of a stand up and the fact he’s a bona fide polymath shouldn’t dilute that fact.’ Rolling Stone
★★★★★ ‘In short, it is clever. It is honest. It is very, very funny.’ Broadway Baby
★★★★★ ‘Banging one-liners and some pithy ditties on the keyboard.’ Mail on Sunday
Plus support
Sat 3rd October
Southport New Comedian of the Year 2026
Grand Final
Sponsored by:
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £8 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 18+
Note to prospective entrants:
Applications will open 10am Monday 31st August
New Comedian of the Year 2026 Grand Final
The competition, now in its 16th Year, will again search the nation for 8 aspiring comedians to compete to become the next Southport New Comedian of the Year.
Dragon Soop and The Southport Comedy Festival are proud to encourage new talent and help them become the stars of tomorrow. Choosing just one winner from an array of comedy talent won’t be easy.
Hosted by Brendan Riley “A born compere” The Guardian
Dragon Soop should only be consumed by adults aged 18+. Please enjoy responsibly
Sunday 4th Oct
An Afternoon with Jason Manford
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £25 +BF
Door: 2:00pm
Show: 3:00pm
Age: 14+ PG
An Afternoon with Jason Manford
Join us for a very special afternoon of comedy with one of the UK’s most celebrated stand-up comedians.
Fresh from a sell-out national tour, Jason returns to the Southport Comedy Festival with his trademark energy, quick wit, brilliant stories and crowd-pleasing charm.
A familiar face on British television, he’s appeared on Big Night of Musicals, Royal Variety Performance, Starstruck, Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, QI, The The Masked Singer, 8 Out of 10 Cats and many more, firmly establishing himself as one of the nation’s best-loved comics.
Don’t miss your chance to see him live, where he’s at his absolute best.
Plus top support: Hayley Ellis
Hosted by Brendan Riley
Sunday 4th Oct
An Evening with Jason Manford
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £25 +BF
Please note the earlier start time for this show
Door: 6:00pm
Show: 7:00pm
Age: 14+ PG
An Evening with Jason Manford
Join us for a very special evening of comedy with one of the UK’s most celebrated stand-up comedians.
Fresh from a sell-out national tour, Jason returns to the Southport Comedy Festival with his trademark energy, quick wit, brilliant stories and crowd-pleasing charm.
A familiar face on British television, he’s appeared on Big Night of Musicals, Royal Variety Performance, Starstruck, Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You, QI, The The Masked Singer, 8 Out of 10 Cats and many more, firmly establishing himself as one of the nation’s best-loved comics.
Don’t miss your chance to see him live, where he’s at his absolute best.
Plus top support: Hayley Ellis
Hosted by Brendan Riley
Tuesday 6th Oct
Jimeoin – Ballyhoo!
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £20.50 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
And Your Dog, MZA & Geffer Notice present:
Jimeoin – Ballyhoo!
A not-to-be-missed, hilarious evening with a genuine stand-up comedy legend who is globally hailed as one of live comedy’s masters – we are absolutely delighted to welcome the return of our favourite Irishman from Australia with his sublimely funny new tour ‘Jimeoin – Ballyhoo!’
Jimeoin’s cheeky no-gimmicks sense of humour, superb material and broad appeal keeps audiences in stitches across the globe. You might be one of the hundreds of millions of fans who have viewed his online comedy clips, or perhaps you’ve seen his laugh-out-loud TV appearances on ‘Live at the Apollo’ or ‘The Royal Variety Performance’… but NOTHING beats seeing this observational joke-maestro on fire and in his element – live-on-stage!
For a guaranteed fun-packed night out of great craic and great jokes we recommend you book early!
‘At the top of his game… didn’t leave a dry eye in the house’ ★★★★★ Manchester Evening News
Wednesday 7th Oct
Sponsored by:
An Evening with Clinton Baptiste
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £20 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
An Evening with Clinton Baptiste
Sponsored by:
Clinton Baptiste is the useless clairvoyant medium psychic from Peter Kay’s smash hit comedy Phoenix Nights.
After last year’s sell out performance, Clinton is back to deliver the best of his recent work, plus some new bits.
Join Clinton for his stories, jokes plus demonstrations of his amazing ability and as always, he’ll be in the audience to give you truthful (but startling) readings from the spirit world!
Not for the faint hearted!
Plus support – Patrick Monahan
Thursday 8th Oct
Henning Wehn: Acid Wehn
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £27.50 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
HENNING WEHN: ACID WEHN
Award-deserving German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn returns to the Southport Comedy Festival with a much extended version of his sold out 2024 show.
Wehn takes an unbiased look at climate change, a topic sure to delight audiences and no surprise. After all, everyone loves talking about the weather. Rain or shine, all will be fine. Or maybe it won’t. Who knows?! Come along. Or else.
“Wehn has given us an understanding of German quirks” King Charles III
“As subtle as Schumacher on Battiston” Some bloke on Twitter
Henning’s most recent television and radio appearances include “Have I Got News For You” BBC1, “Would I Lie To You” BBC1, “House Of Ganes” BBC2, “Live At The Apollo” BBC2, “Guessable” Comedy Central, “Question Time” BBC1, “8 Out Of Cats Does Countdown” Channel 4, “Fighting Talk” BBC Radio 5 Live, “I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue” and “The Unbelievable Truth” BBC Radio 4.
“Wunderbar” The Times
“Cor blimey” The Guardian
Friday 9th Oct
Gary Delaney: Gary On Laughing
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £27.50 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Presented by Impatient Productions.
Gary Delaney: Gary On Laughing
Gary Delaney’s last UK tour ran for two and a half years across 378 dates. People laughed a lot and kept coming back. His videos have hundreds of millions of views.
So now he’s doing it all again with a brand new show. All new jokes and utterly splendid filth. Come along. It’ll be fun. Don’t bring the kids or people who like to get their knickers in a twist. Do wear a TENA pad or dark trousers.
★★★★ ‘More quality jokes in one hour than most comics have in their entire careers…Quite brilliant’ Scotsman
★★★★ ‘A master craftsman’ Times
Saturday 10th Oct
Paul Merton and Suki Webster's Improv Show
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £26 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 15+ PG
Paul Merton and Suki Webster's Improv Show
An evening of sensational improvised comedy hosted by two of the UK’s masters of improvisation with their old friend, improv virtuoso, Mike McShane and a host of very special guests. Fast, fabulously funny improvised games, scenes, stories and laugh out loud surrealism.
“Amongst the best in the business for years… class, nonsense, inventiveness and a whole barrel load of laughs.” ★★★★★ One4Review
“Absolutely delivers the big laughs… hilariously absurd.” ★★★★ Broadway Baby
“Merton and Webster have established themselves as two of the UK’s best… this show is improv comedy at its strongest.” ★★★★ The Scots Reviewer
Sunday 11th Oct
Adam Kay: This Is Going To Hurt
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £25.50 +BF
Please note the earlier start time for this show
Door: 6:00pm
Show: 7:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Warning: Contains medical themes and stories that some may find distressing
Adam Kay: This Is Going To Hurt
BAFTA-winning comedian Adam Kay shares his uniquely hilarious diaries as a junior doctor in this “electrifying” (Guardian) evening of stand-up. Over 350,000 tickets sold.
Based on the multi-million selling book and multi-award-winning TV series.
“Intersperses horror stories from the NHS frontline with a catalogue of sublimely silly spoof songs, and some blissfully brilliant wordplay” ★★★★★ Mail on Sunday
“Hilarious and heartbreaking” Charlie Brooker
Tuesday 13th Oct
Mike Wozniak: The Bench
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £22.50 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 14+ PG
Mike Wozniak: The Bench
New stand-up tour show from Mike Wozniak in which a story about a bench will be prominent. Previous experience of or strong opinions about benches not required. Let Mike worry about that.
As seen on Taskmaster, Man Down and Junior Taskmaster. As heard on Three Bean Salad podcast.
“deliciously distinctive fun… The story of Wozniak might be the shaggiest of shaggy dog stories you will ever hear”
The Evening Standard
“a comic of adorably skewwhiff charm”
The Times
“Wozniak has a talent for [the] slightly absurd… a charming storyteller with a splash of the surreal”
The I Paper
“Wozniak is a great crafter of a story… A great performer with an interesting style”
The Skinny
Wednesday 14th Oct
Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £22 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 14+ PG
Scott Bennett: Blood Sugar Baby
One family, one condition, one hell of a hairy baby… Scott Bennett from Live at the Apollo, The Royal Variety Performance and The News Quiz tells the amazing true story of how his daughter fell ill with a rare genetic condition, congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Never heard of it? Neither had Scott and Jemma.
‘What’s so rare and satisfying is how all the jokes go hand in hand with the seriousness of the situation. It’s a wonderfully hopeful, often hilarious show from a properly funny man’ The Times ★★★★
‘Fabulous turn of phrase, superb character creations ‘ Chortle ★★★★
‘Stardom is surely just one punchline away ‘ Evening Standard ★★★★
Yes, it’s a story about an ill baby, but it’s a very funny one with a happy ending, as new parents Scott and Jemma fight to get the right diagnosis for their daughter and are plunged into months of bewildering treatment, sleepless nights, celebrity encounters and bizarre side effects.
Thursday 15th Oct
Laura Smyth : Born Aggy
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £22.50 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
NOTE: Latecomers Will Not Be Admitted
Age: 14+ PG
Laura Smyth : Born Aggy
What if all your dreams come true and you’ve still got the hump? Laura Smyth has had a meteoric rise in comedy!
Her debut tour ‘Living My Best Life’ sold out up and down the country; she has supported Jack Whitehall, Michelle de Swarte, Alan Davies, and Jason Manford and appeared on multiple panel shows, QI, Would I Lie To You, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Live at The Apollo TWICE!
She’s even beaten cancer; she’s done all the alternative healing shit you could shake a stick at – and she still thinks everyone’s a d**khead. It can’t just be her, can it?
Like her last tour, Laura will cover all of her everyday ever-changing life with truth, warmth, and hilarity. Maybe she needs more sleep or maybe she was just Born Aggy.
‘wickedly funny…a big-hitting good-time comic’ The Guardian
‘Not just a comedian a phenomenon’ The Evening Standard
Fri 16th October
Best of the Fest
Featuring: Steve Gribbin, Clayton Jones, Brennan Reece and host Brendan Riley
Sponsored by:
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £15 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Best of the Fest
Join us for a fantastic night of live comedy with a triple headline show featuring the very best in stand up off the UK comedy circuit.
Steve Gribbin
Liverpool’s legendary guitar-wielding satirist is renowned for his razor-sharp comedy songs, political humour and explosive energy. A veteran of The Cutting Edge at London’s Comedy Store and winner of the UK Comics’ Comic Award for Outstanding Achievement.
“A highly refreshing and original comic…” — The Scotsman
Clayton Jones
A hugely popular observational comedian known for his hilarious take on everyday life. Winner of Last-Minute Comedian of the Year and finalist in English Comedian of the Year.
“This dude has funny bones.” — Romesh Ranganathan
Brennan Reece
Multi award-winning comedian seen on Live at the Apollo and Roast Battle. Winner of English Comedian of the Year, with over 100 million online views and five sold-out UK tours.
“A powerfully entertaining, unstoppable force.” — Chortle
Hosted by Brendan Riley
Sat 17th October
Comedy Bingo Back To The 90’s
Sponsored by:
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £10 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Comedy Bingo Back To The 90’s
Get ready to rewind time and dab the night away at The Southport Comedy Festival for our Comedy Bingo back to the 90’s show
Expect all the chaos and laughs of Comedy Bingo, smashed together with the biggest bangers of the greatest decade ever.
Hosted by the one and only comedian Brendan Riley, this is not your average bingo night, it’s a full on 90’s disco party where you’ll laugh, dance, sing and dab your way to brilliant prizes.
Fancy dress isn’t mandatory… but let’s be honest, it’s highly encouraged.
So grab your mates, dig out the double denim, and remember:
EVERYBODY’S FREE TO FEEL GOOD… AND PLAY BINGO!
We have invited the wonderful team from this year’s festival’s chosen charity, Bebe’s Hive, to hold a prize raffle during the evening. The raffle will be drawn on the night, with all proceeds raised going directly to support the incredible work of this wonderful local charity.
Click Here for More Info
Sunday 18th Oct
Mick Miller: An Afternoon with Mick Miller
Sponsored by:
Matinee Show
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £20 +BF
Door: 2:00pm
Show: 3:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
An Afternoon with Mick Miller
Sponsored by:
Join us for a very special afternoon with comedy legend Mick Miller, one of our most treasured entertainers who has been at the top of his game for over 40 years.
Often referred to as “the bald guy with the long hair”, Mick first rose to prominence during the 1970s on the iconic ITV series The Comedians.
Still as relevant and hilarious today, he is one of the few comedians of his generation to successfully transition onto the alternative comedy circuit, building a whole new fanbase along the way.
This will be a masterclass in stand-up comedy not to be missed.
As seen in Kings of Comedy (Ch4), They Think It’s All Over (BBC1), Comedy World Cup (Ch4), John Bishop’s Only Joking (Sky1), Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford (ITV), Last Laugh in Vegas (ITV), and The Royal Variety Performance (ITV).
Plus support: Oliver Bowler
Sunday 18th Oct
Seann Walsh: This is Torture
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £18 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 14+ PG
Seann Walsh: This is Torture
After his sell-out 2023 tour, the UK’s dishevelled king of stand-up, award-winning Seann Walsh returns with a brand-new show. Don’t miss his trademark high-energy exasperation and razor-sharp observations that leave audiences in stitches and on their feet all around the country. This year, he’s decided to name the show after the thing he says the most in life – THIS IS TORTURE.
As seen on Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
‘Unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation’ – The Guardian
Fri 10th October
Comedy Bingo
Sponsored by:
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £10 +BF
Door: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm
Age: 16+ PG
Comedy Bingo
Raising Funds for 
Eyes Down for a fabulous night of fun(draising) for a fantastic local charity Community Link Foundation with this truly hilarious and unique event!
Comedy Bingo is a highly interactive show hosted by comedian Brendan Riley, “bouncy and engaging” The Scotsman
Sell out show festival 2022, 2023 and 2024
After the Festival
Sponsored Advert
Fri & Sat 23rd/24th Oct
Southport Oktoberfest
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Early Bird Tickets (limited Availability): £15 +BF
Full Price £20 + BF
Price is for admission only
Sessions
Friday 6pm – 10pm
Saturday 1pm – 5pm
Saturday 6pm – 10
Please note. Southport Oktoberfest is not part of Southport Comedy Festival and is independently produced and promoted by Elite Events. For all terms and conditions for this event visit southportoktoberfest.com
Elite Events Presents
Southport Oktoberfest
The Festival is over but the fun continues!
Southport’s biggest & liveliest Oktoberfest is coming back to Victoria Park again on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th October for a weekend of Bavarian fun in our huge Bavarian themed marquee.
If you were lucky enough to witness the antics from 2025 then you know this is an event not to miss!