Laughter is certainly the best medicine - even if you’re not ill! Why not get your ribs well and truly tickled over the next few weeks by attending one or more of the following laughter-fests...  

JONNY COLE

“It’s difficult for me to put my brand of comedy into an industry-standard soundbite,” says local comedian Jonny Cole. “There are a lot of people who love Black Country humour and who’d love to go into a rough & ready Black Country pub just to listen to the banter - and that’s exactly what I do. I’ve absorbed Black Country humour the whole of my life. I take it out of that pub - where people wouldn’t dare go, in case they got their teeth knocked out - and I put it into a safe, controlled environment where they can enjoy it.”

 Wombourne Civic, Friday 4 July; Walsall Arena, Friday 11 July; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thursday 25 September; Lichfield Garrick, Saturday 18 October; Halesowen Town Hall, Tuesday 21 October; Walsall Arena & Arts Centre, Wednesday 22 October; Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, Thursday 23 October

REGINALD D HUNTER

One of the most popular comedians currently working the comedy circuit, Reginald D Hunter’s no-nonsense style and hugely amusing perspectives on the differences between the UK and his homeland of the US have struck a real chord with his audiences. “I felt like an outsider in America when I was growing up, and I feel like an outsider in Britain now. The difference is that feeling like an outsider in Britain seems... normal. There are people who’ve lived here all their lives who feel like outsiders, but one of the things I love about Britain is that it makes room for what y’all like to call ‘the eccentric’. I mean, hell, Britain makes a warm and comfortable space for mother****ers who just like staring at trains! I think that’s very evolved.” 

he Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, Saturday 5 July

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SHREWSBURY INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

As well as being a hotbed of food and folk music, Shrewsbury in recent times has also become a centre of comedy excellence, thanks to this hugely popular event. Five of the town’s venues will be co-hosting the festival, which offers top-drawer comedians the chance to preview their new material in readiness for the Edinburgh Festival. 

As on previous occasions, the 2025 edition of the five-day laugh-in is brought to a close with a special gala event at Theatre Severn, with this year’s line-up of laughter merchants comprising Troy Hawke, Lindsey Santoro, Tez Ilyas and Cally Beaton. 

Other comedians contributing to the festival  include Abandoman, Scott Bennett, Tony Law, Sally-Anne Hayward, Ignacio Lopez, Frankie Munroe, Dave Chawner and Stella Graham. 

Terry Christian, one-time presenter of cult television series The Word, also puts in an appearance. 

Theatre Severn and various other venues across Shrewsbury, Wednesday 9 - Sunday 13 July

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JIMMY CARR

Jimmy Carr’s comedy is all about quickfire, deadpan one-liners - so many of them, in fact, that he’s not sure whether their content actually matters all that much: “People don’t really remember the individual jokes I tell because I tell such a lot of them. What they do remember is how those jokes make them feel.” 
Jimmy is a comedian for whom no subject is off limits: “I’ll talk about anything as long as I feel the joke justifies it. Sure, it may cause controversy - but then controversy is an easy story on a slow-news day. And I never apologise for jokes. After all, I’m not making a serious political statement, I’m just trying to make somebody laugh.” 

The Civic, Wolverhampton, Saturday 12 July; Utilita Arena Birmingham, Wednesday 10 December

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LUCY BEAUMONT

“I started out acting but quickly realised I needed to try something else,” says Hull-born comic Lucy Beaumont, who was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years back and more recently separated from her husband and fellow comedian, Jon Richardson. “I’ve had all sorts of humorous things happen to me in my life, so I thought it made sense to see how I’d do at being funny.”

Lichfield Garrick, Wednesday 16 July; Birmingham Town Hall, Wednesday 10 December; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 11 December 

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MARK WATSON

Well established on the UK comedy circuit, Mark Watson was born in Bristol to Welsh parents and initially delivered his act with a Welsh accent, claiming he felt “more comfortable talking in a voice that I didn’t quite recognise as my own”. 

“Comedy is certainly a time-consuming element of my life,” he admits, “but then while I’m out touring and on stage, there are people at home doing far less glamorous things. There have certainly been times when I’ve been very happy to say, ‘Of course I’d like to stay and help out with that plumbing crisis, but the Midlands awaits!’”

The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield, Friday 18 July; Foxlowe Arts Centre, Staffs, Friday 26 September; Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Saturday 27 September; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Wednesday 1 - Thursday 2 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sunday 2 November

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DARA Ó BRIAIN

Charismatic, fast-talking and very, very funny, Dara Ó’Briain is a familiar face on the telly thanks to shows like Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You.

Jokes include: “If we were truly created by God, why do we occasionally bite the insides of our mouths?” and “Even though you’re still allowed to smoke in your own house, do you have to stub it out when a burglar breaks in, as your house is now his workplace?” Dara stops off in the region with his new touring show, Re:Creation.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 17 September; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wednesday 5 - Thursday 6 November

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JASON MANFORD

Becoming successful in comedy is no walk in the park, as Jason Manford knows. And the former One Show presenter has some sage advice for wannabe comedians: “Don’t take any of my work!... I would also say to people, compare yourself to yourself. Don’t think, ‘Why has that guy got that?’ or ‘Why is Michael McIntyre doing so well?’ or ‘I’m really funny, so why is so-and-so doing that gig, not me?’ You know what, just don’t worry about it. If you’re doing better now than you were six months ago, then you’re doing well.”

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tuesday 30 September; The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Saturday 11 October; Walsall Arena, Thursday 6 November 

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ROB BECKETT

First tickling the nation’s funny bone in 2009, Rob Beckett’s TV work includes 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Celebrity Juice. A high-tempo comedian who’s been described by one newspaper as ‘a little short of a revelation’, Rob claims his relationship with comedy began as a youngster... 

“I was the middle child and desperate for attention,” he explains, “so I decided to try and get it by making my friends and family chuckle - or better still, belly laugh.”

Gags include, “You know you're working-class when your TV’s bigger than your bookcase,” and “My girlfriend worries about me cheating on a night out. I say to her, ‘Why would I have a burger when I’ve got steak at home?’ The only problem is, when you’re drunk, burgers are well nice.”

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 20 - Sat 22 November

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RUSSELL KANE

Past publicity blurb for this fella said it all: “Strap in for some super-speed sunderings and inconvenient sociology in a show of self-soiling merriment that will leave you with rickets.” 

In short, Russell Kane is a very funny man - and it’s not just his publicist who thinks so. Russell has been drawing a crowd since bursting onto the scene more than 20 years ago, serving up liberal doses of humour at a frenetic pace. 

The London-born comedian visits the Midlands with latest touring show HyperActive.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Friday 5 & Saturday 6 December   

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