Winchester Comedy Festival
Winchester Comedy Festival: Summer Gala 2026
An evening of stand-up comedy with Angela Barnes, Arthur Smith, Touissant Douglass and Tom Deacon (MC).
Ray Badran and Josh Weller will no longer be performing due to unforeseen circumstances.
Line up subject to change.
Angela Barnes
Described by the Guardian as ‘a gloriously down-to-earth, straight talking and extremely funny comic’, Angela Barnes swapped a career in health and social care for one in stand-up in 2010 and hasn't looked back.
By 2011, Angela had won the BBC New Comedy Award and has since toured the UK several times with her signature brand of down-to-earth, witty warmth and frank insights. On screen, she was a regular on BBC Two’s iconic Mock The Week, and has appeared on Live At The Apollo and Have I Got News For You on BBC1.
She is a firm favourite on BBC Radio 4, having featured on The Now Show and The News Quiz - including a recent stint as the host. She also hosted BBC Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack.
Arthur Smith
Comedian, presenter, actor, writer (and Night Mayor of Balham - self appointed), Arthur is one of the much admired originals of the great British alternative comedy scene.
Arthur has a consistently brilliant talent and ability to provide light entertainment whilst also still finding new and interesting ways to make people laugh.
It is no surprise, therefore, that he remains a sought after artist by comedy clubs, theatres, festivals and private events and is regularly seen and heard on television and Radio.
Tom Deacon (MC)
Since winning the Chortle Student Comedy Award in 2007, Deacon has hosted his own BBC Radio 1 show, done some telly (The Rob Brydon Show, Fake Reaction, Dave's One Night Stand), and followed The Champions League around the world as The Eurofan - notching up over one million views on YouTube.
A slick, upbeat, confident and loveable performer.
Toussaint Douglass
Multi-talented award-winning comedian and writer, Toussaint Douglass, is one of comedy’s most exciting and talked about names and is making serious waves across the industry. Harnessing his neurodivergence his innovative brand of oddball comedy mixes the personal with the political whilst adding a uniquely absurdist slant to brilliant comic effect making it accessible for all
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