The sensational comedy oddball Sam Campbell has been added to the line-up of this year's Latitude Festival and I can hardly contain my enthusiasm.
Campbell, who I gather comes from Australia, is one of the finest comedians to emerge from the southern hemisphere, or any hemisphere for that matter in recent years. He's better than loads of comedians I've seen doing comedy gigs, although maybe not quite as good as Daniel Kitson or Tim Key. But definitely every bit as good as Phil Wang.
I'm not the only one who thinks highly of Campbell. He was one of the comedians fortunate enough to be chosen to take part in the Channel 4 show called Taskmaster and when he appeared on it people who saw the show were mesmerised by his elaborate performance and strange, some might say eccentric, behaviour. He made everyone laugh and made some people fall in love with him. Some of them even took the trouble to write nice things about him on the social media site called X now but formerly known as Twitter.
Anyway, it's great to hear that he is appearing at Latitude as I wasn't able to see him on his recent tour. Silly me. There are still some shows but they are in places like Edinburgh and Manchester. Too far for me! But if you are nearby do check him out. You can find more details here.
Anyway, he is definitely all set to be one of the highlights of this year's Latitude Festival. Also joining an already brilliant bill, including Sara Pascoe, Jo Brand, Judi Love and Joanne McNally are the following comedy acts.
Described as ‘the best observational comedian of his generation’ (The Guardian), Seann Walsh also joins the bill. As well as a memorable time in the Jungle, Seann was also nominated for a DAVE Comedy Award for Best Comedy Show at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival for Seann Walsh: Is Dead. Happy Now? Seann wowed audiences and critics alike receiving glowing praise and critical acclaim across the board for his candid, confessional and bitingly funny show. Seann has starred in Netflix’s Flinch, Live at the Apollo, Tonight at the London Palladium, Celebrity Juice, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Virtually Famous, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Chatty Man and Stand Up Central. Seann can also be heard on his regular podcast What’s Upset You Now? alongside co-host Paul McCaffrey, which sees them both moan for exactly 15 minutes about the things that infuriate everyone. He also hosts a podcast alongside Jack Dee titled Oh My Dog! where the duo talk about their furry friends.
Sean said, “It is my pleasure to finally be able to bring some much needed class and sophistication to Latitude festival.”
Dane Baptiste has been a dominant force in comedy for a decade, pioneering new paths and making waves. In 2014, he became the first Black British comic nominated for Best Newcomer at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This milestone led to his creation, writing, and starring role in 'SunnyD' on BBC Three, the first sitcom by a Black British writer with a Black British cast on the BBC in over 20 years. His career includes notable appearances on shows like Live At The Apollo and 8 out of 10 Cats, as well as successful live performances like 'Citizen Dane' and 'Gold Oil and Drugs', now available on Netflix and Amazon Prime. His podcast, 'Dane Baptiste Questions Everything', has gained popularity and acclaim, featuring diverse guests. Recent successes include his critically acclaimed series 'Bamous' on the BBC and 'The A-Z Of Blackness' on YouTube. Dane remains active internationally, contributing his writing talents to various projects like 'Attack of The Film Cliches' and CBBC, alongside appearances on daytime TV. Following the release of his online special 'The Chocolate Chip', he's set to return to Barclaycard presents Latitude in 2024.
Hugely acclaimed at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, cult comic Colin Hoult also joins the Latitude bill. As seen in Afterlife (Netflix), Avoidance (BBC), Ghosts (BBC), This Time With Alan Partridge (BBC), Being Human (BBC), BBC3’s award-winning Murder In Successville and judging the 2023 BBC New Comedy Awards. Colin is a successful character comedian – he is well known for his celebrated ‘has-been actress’ character Anna Mann and has received great critical acclaim for his live shows, which were listed among the best-reviewed comedy shows at the Fringe by British Comedy Guide.
Desiree Burch, the London-based New Yorker sensation, is also gearing up for an unforgettable performance at this year's festival. Renowned for her candid humour and sharp wit, Burch burst onto the comedy scene with her acclaimed show "Unf*ckable" in 2017. Since then, she's become a household name, gracing the screens of popular TV shows like Live At The Apollo and Have I Got News For You. From her Christian upbringing to her unexpected journey into sex work, she's set to unravel the intriguing story behind her transformation. With her unique blend of humour and introspection, Burch promises a set that's both thought-provoking and hilarious.
Multi-award winning musical comedy duo Flo and Joan return to Barclaycard presents Latitude following their sell-out, critically acclaimed show, “Sweet Release”. Their unique, sharp-tongued style has taken them around the world with multiple sell-out tours and appearances at the Just For Laughs Festival Montreal and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. As seen on ‘Live at the Apollo’, ‘The Royal Variety Performance’, ‘The Russell Howard Hour’,’ Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club’ online with over 50 million views of their viral songs, in your personal nightmares, and in ‘Alive on Stage,’ their own special available worldwide on Amazon Prime.
Renowned for her versatility as a comedian, actor, and director, Tamsyn Kelly is set to deliver an unforgettable performance that will have audiences roaring with laughter. Fresh from the success of her Edinburgh Fringe show "Crying in TK Maxx," a brutally honest but fair appraisal of the men in her life, Kelly promises to bring her trademark wit and candid humour to the forefront. With a resume boasting support gigs for comedy greats like Seann Walsh, Omid Djalili, and Jessie Cave, along with notable appearances on Channel 4's ‘Rage Room’ and BBC Three's ‘Things You Shouldn't Say’, Kelly's comedic prowess knows no bounds.
Tim Renkow, the renowned comedian and actor celebrated for his groundbreaking portrayal of disability in the hit BBC sitcom Jerk, will also perform at Barclaycard presents Latitude. With his BAFTA-nominated talent, Tim has not only shattered taboos surrounding disability but has also been hailed as a visionary voice in comedy. Tim's comedic brilliance has earned him acclaim from both audiences and critics, with The Guardian dubbing him a "Larry David for a new generation." His success extends beyond Jerk, with nominations at prestigious awards like the RTS Awards and wins at events like The Diversify TV Excellence Awards.
Latitude is in Henham Park in Suffolk from July 25th to 28th, 2024. Buy tickets here.
