Comedy at Latitude Festival 2011

Over the past few years, Latitude’s Comedy Arena has become a comedy festival in its own right. Bursting at the seams with the best comic talent in the land, crowds gather all weekend to witness a variety of hilarious turns from an unrivalled line-up. Whether they be famous names from the comedy circuit or the latest in cutting-edge humour on the brink of stardom, Latitude’s comedy fest has it all, so find a spot, get good and comfortable and prepare for the
funniest three days this summer has to offer.

This year the dazzling comedy line-up currently includes:

Alan Carr, Omid Djalili, a special live edition of the comedy pop quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Jason Byrne, Angelos Epithemiou, Phill Jupitus, Jon Richardson, Brendon Burns, Greg Davies, David O’Doherty, Mark Watson, Danny Bhoy, Richard Herring, Phil Nichol, Charlie Baker, Tom Wrigglesworth, Rob Rouse, Seann Walsh, John Shuttleworth, David Schneider and Friends, Roisin Conaty, Chris Ramsey, Doc Brown, Josh Widdicombe, Nick Helm, Frisky & Mannish, Jonny Sweet, Idiots Of Ants, Popcorn Comedy, Cardinal Burns, Lady Garden, Colin Hoult, Sara Pascoe, Katherine Ryan, Shirley and Shirley, Tiffany Stevenson, The Unexpected Items, The Feral Pigeons, and Max and Ivan.

Alan Carr has become a British institution. Like few that have come before him, his work as a presenter hasn’t overshadowed his stand-up. He is known, and equally applauded, for both. From ‘The Friday/Sunday Night Project’ to his own shows ‘Alan Carr, Chatty Man’ and ‘Alan Carr’s Celebrity Ding-Dong’, his cheeky, on-the-knuckle comic style has tantalised the masses since winning the BBC Best New Stand Up Award in 2001. He’s picked up a hefty amount of awards for his work – including two top accolades from The British Comedy Awards, one which was for Best Live Stand-Up in 2007 – but more than all of this, he has won the hearts of millions for his affable personality and quick fire gags. Crossing the boundaries between family and adult humour with adept subtlety, he’s quite simply one of our finest funny men and
Latitude cannot wait to welcome him to the Comedy Arena for what will be one of the performances of the weekend.

Omid Djalili is a top comic whose career took off in the late 90’s with his two consecutive stand-up shows ‘Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son’ and ‘The Arab and the Jew’ which garnered rave reviews. Djalili’s talents go beyond stand-up and he has appeared in several blockbuster movies including Gladiator, The Mummy and Notting Hill and furthermore was voted 60th in
Channel 4’s ‘The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups’. In 2007 Djalili had his own show on BBC1, ‘The Omid Djalili Show’, which returned for a second series. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s had appearances on ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘Nevermind The Buzzcocks’ and even in the notorious ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ videogame. His outspoken comic stylings are yours to enjoy at Latitude 2011.

After 24 series, 32 hosts and 1 walk-off, the spiteful, shambolic pop quiz that is Never Mind the Buzzcocks will be making its festival debut at this year’s Latitude. Team Captains Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding are joined by host David O’Doherty and stars from the world of music for a raucous live version of the nation’s favourite music-based panel show. If you’re a fan of unedited comedy, stupid music videos, line-ups of extras being humiliated and
comedians crudely interpreting the beginnings of pop songs then Saturday morning in the Comedy Arena is the place to be!

From childhood to his own children, Jason Byrne will escort his trusting audience through a vigorous stream of comedy consciousness, relentlessly assaulting the crowd with his unrivalled comic genius as he relives his wonder years spent nursing his ‘special eye’ and relays the misfortunes of being on holiday, anywhere – with photographic evidence!

WARNING: Latecomers should expect a hand to the face… literally. Byrne’s inspired, original brand of high-energy intelligent lunacy ensures that there is no other comedian like him
and his sell out shows have attracted accolades including Chortle Award for Best Headliner 2007, Perrier Newcomer Award Nomination 1998 and Perrier Award Nomination 2001.

Angelos Epithemiou is probably best known for his regular guest appearances on BBC 2 panel show ‘Shooting Stars’. A burger van owner who carries a plastic bag containing his belongings around with him wherever he goes found himself hosting this year’s NME Awards. The character of Angelos was created by stand-up comedian and actor Dan Renton Skinner. The comic created the character on the live comedy circuit but it was when Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer invited Angelos to join the panel show Shooting Stars that the character became well-known with TV audiences.

A regular on hit TV show QI and team captain on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Phill Jupitus is one of the nations best loved comics, with an unimaginable knowledge of music and popular culture. He comes to Latitude to delight the Comedy Arena with his fantastically cheeky humour. Topical, daring and always hilarious – Phill Jupitus is simply unmissable.

Winner of the Best Breakthrough Act at the 2008 Chortle Awards and nominated for the main ‘Edinburgh Comedy’ Award 2009, Jon Richardson is a true comedic talent. His critically applauded current show ‘Don’t Happy Be Worry’ exemplifies his unique brand of surreal humour but his talents don’t stop there. Having spent 3 years easing Sunday morning hangovers with his charming, self-effacing on his 6Music show with Russell Howard, he has also recently appeared on; ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’, ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ and ‘Grumpy Young Men’ as well as recording a pilot for his own BBC Radio 4 show ‘Debatable’.

Controversial Australian comic Brendon Burns and if.comedy award winner is best known for his aggressive stage presence and close to the bone material. Although having brief forays into television (the ‘11 O’Clock Show’ and ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here Now!’) it’s live where he has forged a reputation with six live CDs to his name. His most painfully honest work is a trilogy, Burnsy versus Brendon, which ran at Edinburgh in 2004, 2005 and 2006,
examining his own life – culminating in his mental breakdown and drinks and drugs rehabilitation at the Priory. Stark yet hilarious work from a leading comic talent.

The impossibly tall, man of the moment, Greg Davies will be bringing his off-the-wall humour to the Comedy Arena. Most people will know him as one third of comedy troupe We Are Klang and as psychotic head teacher Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners, but with his first solo stand-up show ‘Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog’ being nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2010 his reputation as a leading stand-up comic is soon to be cemented.

Irish comic and Perrier Award winner David O’Doherty joins the blistering Comedy Arena line-up. In 2008 he won the if.comedy Award for his show ‘Let’s Comedy’. Often seen in the company of his miniature electronic keyboard, his dry sarcasm comes across in both spoken and song comedy. He’s released two comic CDs, the first of which ‘Orange’ reached number 30 in the Irish singles charts in 2007. He also supported Flight of the Conchords on their Irish Arena tour, contrasting favourably with the New Zealand comic superstars.

Mark Watson’s observational stylings have, in the past, got him such prestigious awards as a Time Out Critics’ Choice Award and the first ever Panel prize at the if.comedies. He’s sold out multiple shows at the Sydney Opera House and has also embarked on a number of 24-hour shows. Unorthodox is a good word to describe Mark’s oeuvre. Having set himself tasks
like abiding by 31 New Year’s resolutions, the progress of which he details on his blog, sustaining an interest in the world’s current events and pursuing musical ambitions, his sets are always full of new and fresh ideas.

The effortlessly cool demeanour of Scottish comic Danny Bhoy has made him a hit on the comedy circuit. Hot off Bhoy’s spectacular British TV debut in ‘Live At The Apollo’ the well-travelled comedian is heading to Latitude. Up until now British audiences have only had rare opportunities to see his unique brand of personal storytelling and razor sharp wit, combined with his easy going relaxed style, which have helped to make him into one of the most indemand and critically-acclaimed comedians around the world.

Bringing his hilarious autobiography ‘How Not To Grow Up’ to Latitude’s Comedy Arena, Richard Herring is a must see. Described by British Theatre Guide as “one of the leading hidden masters of modern comedy” he is most noted for his part in the double-act Lee and Herring and has also collaborated with Andrew Collins on the radio comedy series Banter, on
Collins’ 6Music show and the hugely popular Collings and Herrin Podcast. Festival go-ers will enjoy Herring’s brilliantly funny story of how a self-confessed perpetual Big Kid deals with his greatest fear – getting older – and is the perfect book for everyone who, deep down, still thinks that they’re 18…

Improvisational comic Phil Nichol has been entertaining us since way back in 1993 when he was nominated for a Perrier Award on the back of Corkey and the Juice Pigs, a quirky and surreal musical trio. 13 years later he won the if.comedy Award for his solo show ‘The Naked Racist’. Not one to dodge a tricky subject, Phil’s rants and innovation in comedy have proven that it’s the material you craft from the topic that provides the laughs, not the exploitation
of the subject itself. Expect some fresh ideas and original directions too, when he performs on the Comedy Arena in the summer.

Comedian, Actor, Singer, Dancer, Entertainer and self proclaimed “show off” Charlie Baker will be putting his dancing shoes to bed after his performance on Comic Relief’s ‘Let’s Dance’ and joining Latitude festivals’ rapidly expanding line-up this Summer. His solo show ‘The Worlds Greatest Show Off’ recently debuted in Edinburgh winning The Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe Award. The Guardian call it “A superior modern take on the traditional
showman” but come along and make up your own mind!

Yorkshire funny man Tom Wrigglesworth shot to fame last year winning a plethora of awards including Chortle Best Show 2010 for his heroic show ‘Tom Wrigglesworth’s Open Letter To Richard Branson’ where he tried to rescue an old lady from the jaws of Virgin Train bureaucracy. Subsequently he tackles consumer affairs in his own truly comedic way with his Radio 4 series ‘Tom Wrigglesworth’s Open Letters’. For Latitude, he brings his sell out show ‘Tom Wrigglesworth’s Nightmare Dream Wedding’ – a twisting, roller coaster of a story that’s both hilarious as it is heart warming. Make sure you watch one of the most original and talented comics on the UK and International circuit.

Hyperactive comic Rob Rouse hit the comic scene’s consciousness soon after winning the prestigious So You Think You’re Funny Award. He also performed as part of the Big And Daft Trio with Ian Boldsworth and Jon Williams from 1997 to 2002. On a national level, he starred in the first series of BBC3 sitcom ‘Grownups’ and was a presenter of ‘The Friday Night Project’ on Channel 4. He’s currently gearing up for a highly anticipated UK tour entitled ‘The Great
Escape’, before he hits the festival circuit come July.

Resident compere at Komedia’s ‘Comic Boom!’ Seann Walsh is another impressive comic who has built his career up in a very short time. He has supported Stephen K. Amos on two nationwide tours, appeared on ‘Mock The Week’ and ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ and has a score of nominations and awards behind him including Chortle’s Best Newcomer
Award 2009, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2009 and was included in TV channel Dave’s Top 100 Stand-Ups to Catch in 2011. So, really, the best time to catch him, is at the Comedy Arena this summer.

Sheffield’s finest songwriter and Bontempi organ maestro John Shuttleworth brings his home-spun musical muses to the Comedy Arena this year. In his career, spanning over 20 years, he has produced a wealth of catchy, funny and banal songs dealing with everyday subject matter – going to Morrisons, Indian cuisine, and cleaning paintbrushes in the hilarious ‘Smells Like White Spirit’; Shuttleworth is a national treasure.

David Schneider first appeared in a comic venture in ‘The Day Today’ and also played fictional BBC Commissioning Editor Tony Hayers in the various Alan Partridge spin-offs. Since then he’s had various input into shows like ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, ‘The Saturday Night Armistace’ and ‘Churchill: The Hollywood Years’. With this rich comedy background, David will be bringing along a few friends to entertain everyone at the Latitude Cabaret Arena.

Rising to fame after winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer last year, the comic talent of Roisin Conaty is making waves on the comedy circuit. The County Kerry star delivers stories of social awkwardness and faux pars with a charming and self-effacing conversational delivery. The geek, the weirdo, the klutz – her shame and embarrassment is
both amiable and funny, making this new face a definite one to watch.

Recently listed as one of Britain’s ‘100 Funniest Men’ by readers of Zoo Magazine for Comic Relief, Chris Ramsey has earned his stripes. He’s toured with Al Murray The Pub Landlord and Russell Kane. He’s appeared on the popular BBC3 show ‘Russell Howard’s Good News’ and his 2010 solo show ‘Aggrophobic’ was a hit, dealing with his apparent phobia of confrontations. Though we doubt heckling will ever cease, certainly the respect and love he’s
being shown from the comic circuit means it’ll surely be of the good natured type.

Rapper and stand-up comic Doc Brown is really starting to make a name for himself on the comedy circuit with his eloquent and personal rap style comedy. Younger brother of best-selling author Zadie Smith, a handle of the English language certainly runs through the family and his articulation and clever phrasing has seen him become a finalist in the So You Think Your Funny new act competition and placed third in the English Comedian Of The Year
Award 2009.

From humble beginnings in 2008 to FHM’s Stand Up Hero 2010, Josh Widdicombe has become hot property on the comedy circuit. He has supported arena giants like Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr, while out of the public eye, he’s written for Mock The Week and8 Out Of 10 Cat. He has also won Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, last year, and all of this in just three years. His constant touring of the country has seen his skill grow exponentially; meaning a performance at Latitude should see him at his best yet.

Brash and bold Nick Helm delivers witty one-liners and pun perfection with his own brand of anarchic stage presence. His high energy and powerful comedy turn is punctuated with stories, poems and hilarious songs for a unique performance. It’s a winning combination that has led him to be nominated for the Chortle Best Newcomer and Leicester Comedy Festival
Best Show so far this year. Expect great things from this rising star.

Laura Corcoran and Matthew Jones are better known as Frisky and Mannish, a comic duo who perform pop song parodies that are just as timeless as the originals. Having performed last year’s successful ‘The College Years’, the follow-up to their first major show ‘School of Pop’ where the pair educated audiences through their covers around the country and even in Perth, Australia, they’ve been favourably compared to Bill Bailey. With the all new
‘Pop Centre Plus’ show to bring to Latitude this summer, expect more of the hilarious and sharp satirical swipes at our pop stars that these two excel in.

Jonny Sweet won The Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer in 2009 for hit first show ‘Mostly About Arthur’ and hasn’t looked back since. He starred in More 4’s comic imagining of Boris Johnson and David Cameron’s school days in ‘When Boris Met Dave’ and in the revival of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s ‘Lost Sketches’ on BBC2. He’s a writing partner with Simon Bird and Joe Thomas from hit show ‘The Inbetweeners’ and is now working on TV and film ideas after the success of their show ‘The Meeting’. This young and up and coming star has plenty more to unveil come July.

Latitude favourites Idiot Of Ants – Andrew Spiers, Elliott Tiney, Benjamin Wilson and James Wrighton – bring their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy to the Cabaret Arena. Winners of the Chortle Award 2010 for Best Sketch or Character Act, the Idiots excel at intelligent wit and wonderfully timed observational comedy and are a definite highlight of the weekend’s cabaret programme. ‘Rock ‘n’ roll hysteria meets sharp and brilliant comedy, the Best Sketch group of 2009.’ Tim Arthur, Time Out.

Started by Jon Petrie, who has worked on shows such as ‘QI’, ‘Nevermind the Buzzcocks’ and ‘The IT Crowd’, and stand-up comedian Holly Walsh, Popcorn Comedy is a live, interactive comedy night based around short comedy films and animation. Described by the BBC as “the first truly successful interactive live stand-up show”, the regular club night takes brilliant and funny online videos, shows them to the audience and mixes it up with live stand-up too. With an almost endless resource – the internet – there’s a wealth of material to enjoy from these comic experts.

Cardinal Burns are Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns who are adapt at spinning hilarious yarns from dreamt-up scenarios and have been praised by press and audiences alike. Taking sketch comedy into absurd and physical directions, their quick-fire banter and imaginative creations have taken what could be described as a tried-and-tested formula and injected life into it. Critics seem to agree so it’s worth seeing what they’ve come up with this
summer as they write new material especially for Latitude Festival.

“Sketch comedy doesn’t get much better than this” 4 Stars (The Scotsman). The comic genius of female troupe Lady Garden comes to Latitude with their formidable performance skills and hilarious sketches. Mocking the many facets of the female psyche, their satirical take on everyday occurrences and scenarios are bolstered by super acting and comic timing. Up and coming stars in the making – catch them now before they hit the big time.

Colin Hoult is often seen in the company of his double-act companion Fergus Craig, and they have won awards together including a Writer’s Guild Award for Comedy. On his own, Colin has been seen on ‘Russell Howard’s Good News ‘and ‘Harry Hill’s TV Burp’, heard on ‘28 Acts in 28 Minutes’ and entertained large crowds with last year’s solo show ‘Enemy of the World’.
Described as “Lewis Carroll meets ‘The League of Gentlemen’” by Time Out, this character show dealt with dark themes of paranoia and prejudice. Stitching hilarity to this seam of seriousness, Colin’s 2011 show will be one of the talking points of the comedy line-up at Latitude.

Sara Pascoe has been lurking on the fringes of comedy for a short while now. She was in the hilarious political satire series ‘The Thick Of It’ and the drama ‘Being Human’. Her debut solo show ‘Sara Pascoe vs. Her Ego’ did extremely well and she co-runs two comedy clubs; The House of Mirth and The Gypsy Hill Comedy Club. She is working on new material for Latitude, which will eventually become her new show ‘Sara Pascoe vs. The Apocalypse’. Expect more of the exquisite balance between intelligence and silliness that made her first show such a sell-out success.

Winner of the Nivea Funniest Woman Of The Year Award, Canadian comic and actress Katherine Ryan brings her charming comedy to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena. Dark subject matters delivered with sweet innocence and packed with attitude make this rising star a force to be reckoned with.

Joanna Carolan and Pascale Wilson (Shirley and Shirley) and are thrilled to be performing at Latitude this year. Honed in from two successful Edinburgh runs and a third this year at Assembly; these girls are huge hits on the London comedy circuit. Their character-driven sketches and physical pieces are acutely observed and shock and delight audiences in equal measures. The girls are very pleased to be introducing comedienne actress, Jess Gunning as part of their Latitude show. Jess’s credits include ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Life of Riley’ and BBC2’s ‘Lizzie and Sarah’ (Julia Davis and Jessica Hynes).

Following various acting roles alongside current kings of comedy, like Ricky Gervais and Stephen Fry, Tiffany Stevenson took up the comic mantle in 2005, and made an impact in a lead role for the premiere of ‘Talk Radio’, headed by Stewart Lee and named as The Independent’s top ‘things to do in summer’ in 2006. She runs top London comedy club ‘Old Rope’, a consistently popular night out, and last year’s solo show ‘Dictators’ saw her balance the evil of ‘Now!’ Magazine and her own poor mother. What targets she’ll hit next we don’t know, but you’ll be amongst the first to find out.

Eight person sketch comedy collective The Unexpected Items recently hit the Youtube equivalent of the ‘big time’ after their upper-middle-class-baiting ‘Gap Yah’ went viral. Member Tom Williams also co-wrote the Alicia Keys parody, Newport State Of Mind. Six writers and performers, plus a production crew, make up the team whose musical sideswipes have already taken the nation by storm. Seeing the real thing live and untamed is surely a great opportunity for any Latitude attendee.

New comedy troupe The Feral Pigeons bring their debut show: ‘The Sisters Return to The Isle of Queef!’ to Latitude. Wicked Queen Madame M’zelle vows to stamp out happiness on the magical Isle of Queef, leaving resident joy mongers, Evelyn & Prudence Petticoat, fleeing for their lives. Hijacked by conceptual dance forces, the pair are transported to the mean streets of London… With nothing but a song in their hearts and a low fat muffin in their pockets, the pair must learn to survive in a city where happiness is limited to an hour a day, and even eight year old pipsqueaks must fend for themselves. With no friends, no money, and a relationship on the brink, will the sisters ever return to the Isle of Queef?

Max and Ivan describe themselves as ‘comedians’ sculpting characters with fresh perspectives for familiar faces, and throwing them into situations with every last drop of ingenuity and humour wrung out of them. They are perpetrators of the monthly London ‘ROFFLE Club’ where sketch and character comedy lives and is treated very well by performers and audience
alike. If you think you’re ready for a familiar concept re-wired and sent in your direction, then make yourself part of the crowd for this dynamic duo.

This year’s Latitude Festival is on 14th – 17th July 2011 at the Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk.

Comedy at Latitude Festival 2011

Over the past five years, Latitude’s Comedy Arena has become a comedy festival in its own right. Bursting at the seams with the best comic talent in the land, crowds gather all weekend to witness a variety of hilarious turns from an unrivalled line-up.

Whether they be famous names from the comedy circuit or the latest in cutting-edge humour on the brink of stardom, Latitude’s comedy fest has it all, so find a spot, get good and comfortable and prepare for the funniest three days this summer has to offer.

This year’s festival will include comedy from the likes of Omid Djalili, Jason Byrne,Phill Jupitus, Jon Richardson, Brendon Burns, Greg Davies, Danny Bhoy, Richard Herring, Tom Wrigglesworth, Rob Rouse, Seann Walsh, John Shuttleworth, Roisin Conaty, Doc Brown, Josh Widdicombe, Nick Helm, Idiots Of Ants, Lady Garden and Katherine Ryan.

Omid Djalili is a top comic whose career took off in the late 90’s with his two consecutive stand-up shows ‘Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son’ and ‘The Arab and the Jew’ which garnered rave reviews. Djalili’s talents go beyond stand-up and he has appeared in several blockbuster movies including Gladiator, The Mummy and Notting Hill and furthermore was voted 60th in Channel 4’s ‘The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups’. In 2007 Djalili had his own show on BBC1, ‘The Omid Djalili Show’, which returned for a second series. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s had appearances on ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘Nevermind The Buzzcocks’ and even in the notorious ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ videogame. His outspoken comic stylings are yours to enjoy at Latitude 2011.

From childhood to his own children, Jason Byrne will escort his trusting audience through a vigorous stream of comedy consciousness, relentlessly assaulting the crowd with his unrivalled comic genius as he relives his wonder years spent nursing his ‘special eye’ and relays the misfortunes of being on holiday, anywhere – with photographic evidence! Byrne’s inspired, original brand of high-energy intelligent lunacy ensures that there is no other comedian like him
and his sell out shows have attracted accolades including Chortle Award for Best Headliner 2007, Perrier Newcomer Award Nomination 1998 and Perrier Award Nomination 2001.

A regular on hit TV show QI and team captain on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Phill Jupitus is one of the nations best loved comics, with an unimaginable knowledge of music and popular culture. He comes to Latitude to delight the Comedy Arena with his fantastically cheeky humour. Topical, daring and always hilarious – Phill Jupitus is simply unmissable.

Winner of the ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ at the 2008 Chortle Awards and nominated for the main ‘Edinburgh Comedy’ Award 2009, Jon Richardson is a true comedic talent. His critically applauded current show ‘Don’t Happy Be Worry’ exemplifies his unique brand of surreal humour but his talents don’t stop there. Having spent 3 years easing Sunday morning hangovers with his
charming, self-effacing on his 6Music show with Russell Howard, he has also recently appeared on; ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’, ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ and ‘Grumpy Young Men’ as well as recording a pilot for his own BBC Radio 4 show ‘Debatable’.

Controversial Australian comic Brendon Burns and if.comedy award winner is best known for his aggressive stage presence and close to the bone material. Although having brief forays into television (the ‘11 O’Clock Show’ and ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here Now!’) it’s live where he has forged a reputation with six live CDs to his name. His most painfully honest work is a trilogy, Burnsy versus Brendon, which ran at Edinburgh in 2004, 2005 and 2006, examining his own life – culminating in his mental breakdown and drinks and drugs rehabilitation at the Priory. Stark yet hilarious work from a leading comic talent.

The impossibly tall, man of the moment, Greg Davies will be bringing his off-the-wall humour to the Comedy Arena. Most people will know him as one third of comedy troupe We Are Klang and as psychotic head teacher Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners, but with his first solo stand-up show ‘Firing
Cheeseballs At A Dog’ being nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2010 his reputation as a leading stand-up comic is soon to be cemented.

The effortlessly cool demeanour of Scottish comic Danny Bhoy has made him a hit on the comedy circuit. Hot off Bhoy’s spectacular British TV debut in ‘Live At The Apollo’ the well-travelled comedian is heading to Latitude. Up until now British audiences have only had rare opportunities to see his unique brand of personal storytelling and razor sharp wit, combined with his easy
going relaxed style, which have helped to make him into one of the most indemand and critically-acclaimed comedians around the world.

Bringing his hilarious autobiography ‘How Not To Grow Up’ to Latitude’s Comedy Arena, Richard Herring is a must see. Described by British Theatre Guide as “one of the leading hidden masters of modern comedy” he is most noted for his part in the double-act Lee and Herring and has also
collaborated with Andrew Collins on the radio comedy series Banter, on Collins’ 6Music show and the hugely popular Collings and Herrin Podcast. Festival go-ers will enjoy Herring’s brilliantly funny story of how a self-confessed perpetual Big Kid deals with his greatest fear – getting older – and is the perfect book for everyone who, deep down, still thinks that they’re 18…

Yorkshire funny man Tom Wrigglesworth shot to fame last year winning a plethora of awards including Chortle Best Show 2010 for his heroic show ‘Tom Wrigglesworth’s Open Letter To Richard Branson’ where he tried to rescue an old lady from the jaws of Virgin Train bureaucracy. Subsequently he tackles consumer affairs in his own truly comedic way with his Radio 4 series ‘Tom
Wrigglesworth’s Open Letters’. For Latitude, he brings his sell out show ‘Tom Wrigglesworth’s Nightmare Dream Wedding’ – a twisting, roller coaster of a story that’s both hilarious as it is heart warming. Make sure you watch one of the most original and talented comics on the UK and International circuit.

Hyperactive comic Rob Rouse hit the comic scene’s consciousness soon after winning the prestigious ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ Award. He also performed as part of the Big And Daft Trio with Ian Boldsworth and Jon Williams from 1997 to 2002. On a national level, he starred in the first series of BBC3 sitcom ‘Grownups’ and was a presenter of ‘The Friday Night Project’ on Channel 4.
He’s currently gearing up for a highly anticipated UK tour entitled ‘The Great Escape’, before he hits the festival circuit come July.

Resident compere at Komedia’s ‘Comic Boom!’ Seann Walsh is another impressive comic who has built his career up in a very short time. He has supported Stephen K. Amos on two nationwide tours, appeared on ‘Mock The Week’ and ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ and has a score of
nominations and awards behind him including Chortle’s Best Newcomer Award 2009, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2009 and was included in TV channel Dave’s Top 100 Stand-Ups to Catch in 2011. So, really, the best time to catch him, is at the Comedy Arena this summer.

Sheffield’s finest songwriter and Bontempi organ maestro John Shuttleworth brings his home-spun musical muses to the Comedy Arena this year. In his career, spanning over 20 years, he has produced a wealth of catchy, funny and banal songs dealing with everyday subject matter – going to Morrisons, Indian cuisine, and cleaning paintbrushes in the hilarious ‘Smells Like White
Spirit’; Shuttleworth is a national treasure.

Rising to fame after winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award for ‘Best Newcomer’ last year, the comic talent of Roisin Conaty is making waves on the comedy circuit. The County Kerry star delivers stories of social awkwardness and faux pars with a charming and self-effacing conversational
delivery. The geek, the weirdo, the klutz – her shame and embarrassment is both amiable and funny, making this new face a definite one to watch.

Rapper and stand-up comic Doc Brown is really starting to make a name for himself on the comedy circuit with his eloquent and personal rap style comedy. Younger brother of best-selling author Zadie Smith, a handle of the English language certainly runs through the family and his articulation and clever phrasing has seen him become a finalist in the ‘So You Think Your Funny’ new act competition and placed third in the English Comedian Of The Year Award 2009.

From humble beginnings in 2008 to FHM’s Stand Up Hero 2010, Josh Widdicombe has become hot property on the comedy circuit. He has supported arena giants like Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr, while out of the public eye, he’s written for Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats. He has also
won Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, last year, and all of this in just three years. His constant touring of the country has seen his skill grow exponentially; meaning a performance at Latitude should see him at his best yet.

Brash and bold Nick Helm delivers witty one-liners and pun perfection with his own brand of anarchic stage presence. His high energy and powerful comedy turn is punctuated with stories, poems and hilarious songs for a unique performance. It’s a winning combination that has led him to be nominated for the Chortle Best Newcomer and Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show so far this year. Expect great things from this rising star.

Latitude favourites Idiot Of Ants – Andrew Spiers, Elliott Tiney, Benjamin Wilson and James Wrighton – bring their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy to the Cabaret Arena. Winners of the Chortle Award 2010 for Best Sketch or Character Act, the Idiots excel at intelligent wit and wonderfully timed observational comedy and are a definite highlight of the weekend’s cabaret programme. ‘Rock ‘n’ roll hysteria meets sharp and brilliant comedy, the Best Sketch group of 2009.’ Tim Arthur, Time Out.

“Sketch comedy doesn’t get much better than this” 4 Stars (The Scotsman). The comic genius of female troupe Lady Garden comes to Latitude with their formidable performance skills and hilarious sketches. Mocking the many facets of the female psyche, their satirical take on everyday occurrences and scenarios are bolstered by super acting and comic timing. Up and coming
stars in the making – catch them now before they hit the big time.

Winner of the ‘Nivea Funniest Woman Of The Year’ Award, Canadian comic and actress Katherine Ryan brings her charming comedy to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena. Dark subject matters delivered with sweet innocence and packed with attitude make this rising star a force to be reckoned with.

Latitude Festival takes place on Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th July 2011 at Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk.

For more information visit the Latitude Festival Website.

Someone sent me a clip from BBC 3’s The Wall, which I have to confess I haven’t seen.  But here’s a really funny sketch from Idiots Of Ants showing what it might be like if what happens on Facebook actually happened in real life.