The Wells Comedy Festival - Somerset’s ‘weekend-long comedy jamboree’ (The Guardian) – returns in 2025 for its ninth year. 

 

Dozens of the country’s top names in comedy will descend on England’s smallest city for a big bank holiday weekend of comedy from 23-25 May.

 

The first shows announced for 2025 include Sara Pascoe (Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo, The Great British Sewing Bee) who will be making a welcome return to the festival with her brand new show I Am A Strange Gloop. Festival favourite Rhys James (Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central) also returns as well as Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club and Guessable star Kemah Bob and star of The Stand-Up Sketch Show and Richard Osman’s House of Games Chloe Petts.

 

Multiple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees including Catherine Bohart (Live at the Apollo, The Mash Report), Jessica Fostekew (QI, Live at the Apollo, Travel Man), Chris Cantrill (The Mash Report, Harry Hill's Clubnite) and Mat Ewins (Harry Hill's Clubnite, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) are announced for the festival.

 

Plus both of the 2024 Edinburgh Comedy Award winners – Best Comedy Show winner Amy Gledhill (Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown) and Best Newcomer winner Joe Kent-Walters – are each bringing their award-winning shows to Wells.

 

As well as solo shows, the festival’s four gala performances are now on sale, each featuring a surprise line-up of comics from across the festival.

 

Ben Williams, Festival Director, said: ‘The line-up for next year’s festival is already taking shape, and we’re thrilled to be announcing a bunch of festival regulars alongside some new names making their Wells debuts. Plus we’re very excited to have Sara Pascoe back at the festival for the first time since 2018. Watch this space for more line-up announcements coming soon.’

 

All shows on sale at www.wellscomfest.com