PEOPLE in Hereford are sure to be laughing in the aisles in May as The Courtyard hosts CourtLaughing, a three-day comedy festival running from May 25 to 27.

Top of the bill is popular comedian Jon Richardson, best known for being a team captain on panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats, whose Funny Magnet show has already sold out.

Herefordshire actor John Challis, loved by millions as Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, will also be taking part in the festival on the Saturday evening, when he’ll be talking about his 48-year career in showbusiness, chronicled in the first volume of his memoirs, Being Boycie.

Andy Hamilton, co-creator and co-writer of popular sitcoms Outnumbered and Drop the Dead Donkey, will be serving up a hatful of gags on the same evening, as will Tom Deacon, who has hosted his own Radio One show since 2010 and performs standup on The Rob Brydon Show. Award-winning comedian and writer Tom Craine will also be at festival on the Saturday, and Jigsaw, rising stars of sketch comedy, in which Tom is joined by Dan Antopolski and Nat Luurtsema, perform the following evening.

Friday features Michael Winslow, who starred in Police Academy, and sketch comedy act WitTank, while Sunday brings ‘barmy’ Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre and James Campbell with Comedy 4 Kids.

The Hereford Times is the festival’s media partner and will be covering it up to and including the event.

Reporter Paul Rogers will also be on the judging panel of Saturday’s open mic event offering a slot at The Courtyard Comedy Club to the winning act.

For full festival details

Click to go to The Courtyard
Hereford Times: The Courtyard - Herefordshire's Centre for the Arts