Josh Widdicombe and Tom Allen headlining major comedy show after Strictly Come Dancing rumours
Josh Widdicombe and Tom Allen both have high profile sets at Laugherama at Somerset House this summer.
Josh Widdicombe, Tom Allen and more are headlining the first ever Laughterama festival.
The upcoming new event, which will mark the first time comedy has been held at Somerset House, will feature an all star bill of comics taking to the stage for a series of open-air shows.
The festival will open on Thursday, July 29 with Ross Noble topping a bill rounded out by Bridget Christie, Kemah Bob, Elis James and Friday Night Dinner actor Tom Rosenthal.
The next night, Last Leg star Josh headlines a stacked line-up which also includes Rosie Jones alongside Michael Odewale, Ivo Graham and John Cobins.
Josh has been among the names rumoured as one of the new Strictly Come Dancing presenters followed the exit of longtime hosts Tess Daly and The Traitors star Claudia Winkleman.
According to The Sun newspaper, auditions are believed to have taken place over the last few weeks, with producers said to have been approaching the try-outs - for which the likes of Rylan Clark, Emma Willis, Tom Allen, Angela Scanlon and Alex Jones were all in consideration - with an open mind in order to find the best possible paring.
The day after Josh's Laughterama show, on July 31, it's Mock The Week legend Dara Ó Briain's turn to top the bill, with support acts like ventriloquist Nina Conti, rising star Kiran Saggu, Michelle de Swarte and Chloe Petts.
Phil Wang is one of several Taskmaster alumni appearing as he brings the Saturday evening show to an end following Jamali Maddix, Saturday Night Live UK star Ania Magliano and Fern Brady, after Sara Pascoe tops the afternoon show.
Finally, on August 2 Tom Allen headlines the afternoon gig after support bill featuring Lou Sanders, before a stacked evening lineup.
Amy Gledhill will kick things off, followed by Christopher Macarthur Boyd, Celya Ab, Tim Key and Ed Gamble, with Nick Mohammed closing the entire week.
In a press release, organisers teased: "Set against Somerset House’s stunning backdrop of the Edmund J Safra Fountain Court, the festival will present a series of specially curated open-air shows featuring some of the country’s most celebrated comedians alongside the brightest rising stars on the circuit.
"Each show will showcase five acts spanning the full breadth of contemporary comedy, from sharp stand-up and surreal storytelling to boundary-pushing performances and cult favourites."
Laughterama at Somerset House follows the success of Laughterama Manchester, which launched in 2022 to great acclaim and has continued to be produced by live entertainment company 57.
Tickets for all shows are on sale now at laughterama.com.
