A DECADE OF LAUGHTER
From big name stars to emerging stand-ups we take a look at the highlights of this year’s Harrogate Comedy Festival.
The summer will soon be but a distant memory, so we should all thank the good people of Harrogate Comedy Festival who are about to inject a little light into our lives. Now in its 10th year, the festival has become a bit of an institution and this year’s event runs across 18 days and will see performances from more than 35 stand-ups from big established names to those just starting out.
The October bill features a strong line-up of female comedians, with headliner Sarah Millican being joined by Flo and Joan, Lou Sanders, Harrogate’s own Maisie Adam, Sara Pascoe, Samantha Baines, Lucy Hopkins, and Juliette Burton.
Doing it for the boys, will be Ross Noble, Jimeoin, Nish Kumar, David O’Doherty, Jason Byrne, and Stewart Francis, who never uses one word when a pun will do.
Alongside those old hands, the festival will also run its annual Comedian of the Year competition where upcoming stand-ups vie for a place in the final and a much-coveted spot at the closing gala.
With previous winner Mickey P Kerr having recently reached the final of Britain’s Got Talent the competition heats are always a good place to spot comedy stars of the future.
Rachel Auty said: “The Harrogate Comedy Festival is a real gem for the town and has a fantastic reputation for quality – even earning Harrogate the title ‘comedy capital of the north’ along the way.
“This year we hope to build on that and the festival programmers are proud of not only the big names but also another diverse comedy offer of ‘not just stand-up’.”
