Latitude Festival Announces Dara O Briain, Katherine Ryan, and Simon Amstell as 2017 Comedy Headliners

Now in its 12th edition, Latitude Festival once again sets the bar high for summer festivals with the largest comedy line up in the UK, offering festival goers an unrivalled opportunity to see the world's most globally acclaimed comedians, alongside emerging talent and innovative newcomers. Latitude Festival takes place on 13th - 16th July in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. Tickets are available here.

Latitude's Curator of the Arts, Tania Harrison says:
"Latitude prides itself in showcasing the very best artists, both emerging and established, and in the Comedy bill you'll find newcomers, rising stars and international acts. I'm delighted to announce Dara Ó Briain, Katherine Ryan and Simon Amstell as our first Comedy headliners, and they're joined on the bill by an incredible line up of comics. We're also hosting playful, provocative performances from Soho Theatre and Cabaret stars including Duckie, Jonny Woo & The Glory, and Desmond O'Connor's Vive La Resistance, waving the revolutionary flag for the 50th anniversary of a landmark year for LGBT rights."

Latitude will see the phenomenally talented Dara Ó Briain bring his astute observations to the Comedy Arena for a headline performance. Dara has been an ubiquitous presence in British comedy for the past decade, both as a presenter on Mock the Week and recent reboot of Robot Wars and his decade-long stint as the host of Live at the Apollo.

Panel show favourite Katherine Ryan will set out to entertain the Latitude audience with her razor sharp pop culture critique. Katherine's exuberant style has dominated TV and live comedy, with her stand-up show KATHBUM completing two sell-out UK tours and international dates. Katherine recently released Katherine Ryan: In Trouble on Netflix, seeing her become the second British-based comedian to have a Netflix Original Comedy Special released globally.

Having found fame on Popworld and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Simon Amstell completes the trio of headliners as he sets out to entertain the Latitude audience with a performance of highly literate and existential stand-up. After a series of international sold out tours, Simon has gone on to co-write hit TV series Grandma's House, alongside his most recent feat of writing and directing last week's hit BBC veganism mockumentary, Carnage.

North-East of England's finest, Chris Ramsey will be joining the stellar line up with his high-energy, off-the-cuff stand-up comedy. A regular face on entertainment shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Virtually Famous, Chris has also appeared as Jack in BBC2's Hebburn alongside his latest touring show All Growed Up, which has been extended due to outstanding demand.

Having appeared in E4's Skins and 2016's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Joel Dommett will be bringing his high-octane comedy to Latitude this year. Joel has appeared in numerous television shows including Charlie Brooker's sitcom Popatron, Sky 1's Bring The Noise, ITV2's Reality Bites and Comedy Central's Drunk History.

BBC3 Edinburgh Comedy Marathon host and series regular on Wall Of Fame, Andrew Maxwell will be returning to Latitude for another raucous performance full of intrepid social commentary and funny political observations. He'll be joined by corporate lawyer turned comedian Susan Calman, who is set to delight the Latitude audience with her bubbly manner and caustic edge. The BBC 4 favourite has garnered fans worldwide with her confessional tales, and will be bringing them with her in abundance to the Comedy Arena.

Charming and charismatic, Brighton's finest motor mouth Seann Walsh will be bringing another outstanding observational stand-up performance to Henham Park. Sharp wit and humorous observations will also come from American stand-up comedian, political satirist and author of the critically acclaimed Never Shake Hands With A War, Barry Crimmins.

Following a run of dates on his Peak Bulls**t tour and highly acclaimed monthly topical debate Slacktivist Action Group; Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Live At The Apollo regular Andy Parsons will be making a welcomed debut at Latitude Festival's Comedy Arena. He'll be joined by actor, writer, unconventional comedian and spellbinding performance poet, Tim Key.

Prolific comedian, writer and podcaster, Richard Herring is one of the UK's most influential comedians of the past twenty years and will be making an unmissable return to Latitude. Illustrious comic and internationally famed meme, Nish Kumar will join the line up following his acclaimed UK tour of Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout The Words Real Loud. The thought-provoking Tiff Stevenson joins them in captivating Henham Park following her sell-out 2015 show Mad Man, which received a blinding ten 4* and 5*reviews.

Star of cult TV show Trigger Happy TV, Dom Joly will present his stage show Hello. It's Dom Joly to the Literary and Poetry Arena. Meanwhile it's a match made in comedy heaven in the Cabaret Tent as TV's Shooting Stars' 82 year old Barry from Watford and his much younger friend Angelos Epithemiou join forces as Angelos and Barry, and will be discussing everything from global events, ideological dilemmas and forgotten characters from Gladiators.

Known for the Comedy Podcast Chart topping show, The Elis James and John Robins Show, and alumni of the legendary Bristol Comedy Flat alongside Russell Howard, Jon Richardson and Mark Olver; John Robins will showcase his honesty, charm and lightning quick improvisation to the Latitude audience. Showcasing his trademark witty comments on everything from emoji's to reality TV, David Morgan will bring his gleeful style of comedy to the Comedy Arena. Joining him will be fast-talking, gag-a-second stand-up Adam Hess and three-time Chortle Award-winner, Joseph Morpurgo with his idiosyncratic brand of eccentric and subversive comedy.

The winner of both So You Think You're Funny and the BBC New Comedy Awards, Tom Allen will delight Latitude with his sharp, acerbic wit and camp, riotous storytelling. Joining Tom in the Comedy Arena will be his podcast partner and innovative BAFTA award winning writer and comedian, Suzi Ruffell whose engrossing tales of social ineptitude has captivated audiences everywhere. Rounding off the trio of awkwardly observant comedians will be apologetic Eton and Oxford alumnus Ivo Graham who will regale Latitude with his gauche charm and crafty, self-aware wit ahead of his autumn tour.

The Comedy Arena will also welcome back flâneur, raconteur, bon-viveur, and the greatest UK-basEd French comedian, Marcel Lucont. Marcel has toured the world with his dry wit, bawdy chansons and exquisite sex poetry and is set to get Latitude laughing along with him this summer. Comedy double act and creators of The Wrestling, Max and Ivan will be returning to Latitude this year with their intricate multi-character show. Norwegian comic and winner of Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Awards' Best Newcomer, Daniel Simonsen will enthuse crowds with his surrealist observations and cleverly crafted gags, whilst founding member of award-winning comedy smash hit Austentatious, Rachel Parris will treat Latitude audiences to her award-winning musical comedy which has won her plaudits around the UK.

Making a stop at Latitude on his first national tour, Tez Ilyas achieved phenomenal success with his debut stand-up show TEZ Talks which was followed by his equally acclaimed show Made in Britain. Arriving at Latitude with a stack of awards and accolades will be South African stand-up Loyiso Gola and BBC Radio New Comedy Award winner Steve Bugeja. Joining them with his musical dexterity will be comedian, professional choirboy and aspiring goalkeeper Lloyd Griffith.

Latitude Festival favourite Marcus Brigstocke will make a return to the Literary and Poetry Arena in an exciting performance of Princefest, which sees him paying tribute to his eponymous musical hero, Prince. He'll be joined by Robin Ince, best known for co-hosting The Infinite Monkey Cage, who will be performing Festival Shambles.

Innovative sketch team Pappy's are a Latitude favourite and will be bringing their anarchic hijinks to Henham Park in the form of their panel game podcast Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown, whilst smash hit comedy podcast, My Dad Wrote a Porno will see James Morton, joined by James Cooper and Radio 1 DJ Alice Levine, read out chapters from the erotic books his 60 year old dad has written at the Literary and Poetry Arena.

Charlie Baker will be making a stop at Latitude where he'll be polishing up terrible pop songs in his own unique style, whilst it'll be prizes and puns aplenty as Phil Ellis brings his anarchic and delinquent comedic take on a kids gameshow, Funz and Gamez to Henham Park.

The Cloak and Dagger Club will befuddle festival-goers with Great British Mysteries in the Cabaret Tent, and the Latitude audience should charge up their smartphones for an intense round of quizzes, challenges and games in WiFi Wars.

Cabaret royalty, The Glory & Jonny Woo are set to revive their cult lip sync show based on the music of Eurovision winners Bucks Fizz; Night of a Thousand Jay Aston's, for a special performance at Latitude this year. This will be followed by a classic Sunday Night at The Glory party, as Jonny and his partner John Sizzle bring out all the regular performers to a soundtrack of pop, disco and electro, along with the usual late night Glory debaucheries.

The illustrious Soho Theatre who host the best names in comedy at their London home, will take up residence in the Cabaret Tent. They will be joined by iconic collective Duckie showcasing Nancy Boy Revolution which will call all dissident dykes, political puff-tahs, bisexual bolsheviks and progressive trans-gressives to rise up and revolt in style. Latitude favourite Ida Barr will present Lost Pubs of England and the Cabaret Tent will also welcome trailblazing queer entertainer Timberlina and Desmond O'Connor's Vive La Resistance which features a live swing band, audience dancing led by Swing Patrol and explosive circus cabaret performances.

Also appearing this year will be: Luke Kempner, Lolly Adefope, Pierre Novellie, Tom Lucy, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Bilal Zafar, Jasper Cromwell-Jones, Alfie Brown, Brennan Reece, Sophie Willan, Fin Taylor, Lauren Pattison, Rose Matafeo, Jayde Adams, Norris & Parker, Sarah Bennetto, Kwame Asante, Maddy Anholt, Katie Mulgrew, Twayna Mayne, Flo & Joan, Goodbear, Abigoliah Schamaun, Liz Miele, Sarah Keyworth, Kelly Convey, Eshaan Akbar, Daisy Earl, Tom Ward, Alasdair Beckett-King, George Rigden, Michael Odewale, George Lewis, Darren Harriott, Tessa Coates, Micky P Kerr, Guz Khan, Lola and Jo, and the Chortle Student Comedy Awards which originally showcased the emerging talent of Chris Ramsey and Adam Hess.

Handpicked by DJ and broadcaster Huw Stephens, the Lake Stage bill offers festival goers the opportunity to see the stars of the future in an intimate environment. Previous artists who have graced the stage include The xx, James Blake, Metronomy, Bombay Bicycle Club, alt-J, and this year's Friday night Latitude Festival headliners The 1975, reiterating Latitude's unmistakable reputation for nurturing the very best of young talent.

BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens said:
"I adore Latitude, and curating the Lake Stage is one of my favourite things. This year's headliners Cabbage, Jorja Smith and The Magic Gang sum up the spirit of independence and confidence in the music on the stage. Cabbage are immense on stage; they've really made a mark with their live gigs. Jorja was last seen onstage with Drake, appearing on 'More Life'. And The Magic Gang have emerged as one of the most exciting live bands around. Elsewhere on the Lake Stage you have some of my favourite new artists playing. It's going to be a blast!"

Topping the Lake Stage bill on Friday are Manchester five-piece Cabbage, one of the most hotly-tipped guitar bands in the UK right now, famed for their notoriously raucous live shows and cutting social commentary. Joining the Mancunian indie-rockers are the constantly-evolving HMLTD, fresh off the back of widespread acclaim for a string of innovative singles and EPs, and London five-piece Shame, with their growing following for their politicised, jarring post-punk. Also joining the line up are Little Cub, armed with their debut album Still Life which arrives this spring, and the highly infectious SuperGlu.

Saturday at the Lake Stage sees a line up specially curated by headliners Mumford & Sons, in collaboration with Huw Stephens, as part of Latitude'sGentlemen of the Road Stopover. The previously announced Jorja Smith will be joined by an array of diverse new prospects including genre-straddling London trio Strong Asian Mothers, Welsh pop newcomer Casi, Celtic folk revivalists Saint Sister, rapier-witted punk troupe IDLES, the otherworldly Nilüfer Yanya, Surrey singer-songwriter Liv Dawson, and Northampton troubadour Bruno Major.

The weekend is rounded off on Sunday with another eclectic selection of the very best new music including performances from much-loved indie pop mainstays The Magic Gang, heirs to the riot grrrl thrOne Dream Wife, London producer duo Otzeki, Cardiff grime-punk crew Astroid Boys, Maccabees protégé Matt Maltese, and Berlin garage-rock duo Gurr.

Joining a star-studded line up including this years' headliners The 1975, Mumford and Sons and Fleet Foxes, on the Obelisk Arena is German folk-crossover duo Milky Chance, who'll be bringing their new album Blossom to Latitude for its first UK performance since its release earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Sunrise Arena welcomes a host of new names including the much-loved, incomparable Marika Hackman, Staffordshire electro-folk aficionado Dan Croll, legendary Louisianan bluesman Gill Landry, and a late-night showdown between Austrian dance duo HVOB and Mumford & Sons'Winston Marshall, who recently collaborated on 'The Blame Game'.

The DIY Presents the Alcove Stage brings a handful of fresh faces to its veritable who's who of ascendant stars. Joining proceedings are Amsterdam indie-rock purists Klangstof, spellbinding Auckland neo-folker Aldous Harding, rising balladeer Dan Owen, pop-rock newcomers OUTLYA and studious blues rocker Bruce O Yates.

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