Big names join up-and-comers at Peterborough’s Key Comedy Festival

Romesh Ranganathan at the Congress Theatre in October 2016 SUS-170103-143547003

The comedy star will be trying out some new material at the sold out show on Friday, March 8, on the Key Theatre’s main stage, ahead of a new tour.

Back for a seventh side- splitting year, the festival gets under way the previous evening with Mock the Week and BBC Radio 4 regular Mark Watson. After being cluster-bombed with yoghurt on ‘Taskmaster’, Mark returns to what he’s best at: being indoors. As scrawny and impassioned as ever, Mark showcases his usual notoriously high joke-and-rant-per-minute rate.

One liner merchant Gary Delaney returns to the theatre on the Saturday with another onslaught of lean, expertly crafted gaggery. A Mock the Week regular, Gary’s shows are renowned in the business for a near unrivalled volume of high-class gags.

Another big name in the main house, Hal Cruttenden (Sunday), has literally filled our TV screens recently with appearances on Have I Got News for You, Back Off: Extra Slice, and Live at the Apollo.

His daughters chose the title ‘Chubster’ for his new stand-up show. He’s now on a diet.

In the Key Studio, some award winning names also take to the Key’s more intimate auditorium.

As a comedian, choirboy and host of Sky Sports’ Soccer AM Lloyd Griffith (Thursday) promises jokes, dubious impressions, jokes, a bit of choral singing, jokes, maybe a fact about a cathedral and some more jokes.

Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Nominee 2018 and Live at the Apollo star, Sindhu Vee (Friday) brings her critically acclaimed and Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show, Sandhog - and it is a sell-out at the Key too.

Dave Joke of the Fringe Winner, Cambridge mathematics dropout and professional poker player Ken Cheng (Saturday) stops off on his UK-wide tour ‘Best Dad Ever’ following a sold-out, award nominated run at the Edinburgh Festival.

And finally, don’t miss Ahir Shah (Sunday) who returns to the Key with a brand new stand-up show about life and what comes after, death and what comes before, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

The Festival - recognised for hosting big names on the British and International circuit as well as serving as a platform for rising stars hotly tipped to be ‘the next big thing’ - runs from March 7 to 10 and all shows are recommended for ages 16+.

To book for any of the shows go to vivacity.org/comedyfest