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The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Comedy Festival is taking place in Belfast on Wednesday 21 – Thursday 22 May 2025.

Download an easy read guide (pdf) to the festival.

* Wednesday 21 May schedule:

Comedy festival welcome

The Mac, 10 Exchange Street, West, Belfast BT1 2NJ

4 - 4.20pm

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Director of Comedy Jon Petrie welcomes you and the people in the same room as you to the festival. He’ll be running through the festival agenda, and basically whipping the audience into a fever of anticipation. How will he do it? A joke, a song, maybe… juggling?

Steve Coogan: in conversation

4.20 – 5.20pm 

Steve Coogan’s career spans decades of TV, film, theatre and radio, and encompasses both comedy and drama; he’s been lauded with five BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, and countless other awards. His iconic comedy creation Alan Partridge compellingly blends social satire, absurdity, and awkwardness, and is soon to return to the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ in a soul-searching documentary series How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge). Don’t miss this rare chance to hear from the man himself as he talks to writer and comedian Holly Walsh about his incredible career.

How are you? It's Alan (Partridge) exclusive screening plus Q&A

5.45 – 6.45pm

Premiere screening of episode one of Alan Partridge’s latest ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ series, in which the veteran broadcaster goes on a journey to explore his mental health, and the mental health of the nation at large. Followed by a Q&A with the brilliant Neil and Rob Gibbons, co-writers and directors of the new series. Hosted by comedian and writer Kevin McGahern.

Stand-up @ The Belfast Empire

Belfast Empire Music Hall, 42 Botanic Ave, BT7 1JQ

7.30 – 11pm

Join us at the iconic Belfast Empire for a night of stand-up comedy brought to you by The Empire Laughs Back, including some of the best Northern Irish comedians among other brilliant acts from across the UK.

Line-up: Colin Murphy (MC), Emma Doran, Samira Banks, Shane Todd, Marjolein Robertson, Paul Hilliard, Diona Doherty and Leroy Brito.

Frankie Monroe's Pub Quiz

Ulster Sports Club, 96-98 High St, Belfast, BT1 2BG

7.30pm – late

Join ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ New Comedy Award Winner and Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer Joe Kent-Walters as his alter ego Frankie Monroe for a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½-sanctioned Frankie Monroe’s Pub Quiz. After an afternoon of panel discussions and awkward networking, what better way to unwind than a pint of milky stout in the Misty Moon Club with Yorkshire’s biggest bastard? Expect challenging trivia about TV comedy, meaty liquids and motorway service stations.

 * Thursday 22 May 

The Mac, 10 Exchange St, West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ

The Gig-gle economy - how to make it in comedy

Dreaming of making the next big comedy hit? Or the next but one? Whether you’re just getting started or looking to move into a more creative role, this is the session for you! Join director George Kane (Inside No. 9, Brassic), producer Carleen Beadle-Larcombe (Boarders, People Just Do Nothing), Rajiv Karia (Zoners) and Tiger Aspect's Malak El-Gonemy for a frank and funny exploration of the resourceful, out-of-the-box thinking that built their careers in comedy. Want next-level careers advice from the best in the field but not sure you can be bothered to get out of bed for it? Don’t worry, there’s free croissants and coffee for all attendees. Hosted by Iyare Igiehon.

Three heads are better than one - meet the heads of comedy

10.45 – 11.30am

The heads of comedy from the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, Channel 4 and ITV – Jon Petrie, Charlie Perkins and Nana Hughes – normally deadly rivals, come together to discuss the biggest challenges facing British Comedy today at a time when keeping people laughing has never been more important. From funding and audience habits to the rise of streaming, they’ll explore how broadcasters can best support both emerging and established talent, champion risk-taking and protect the creativity of a genre we all love. Expect honest debate, sharp insights and some healthy rivalry, ending in tears, maybe hugs, a song perhaps? Chaired by VAL’s Phil Clarke.

Listen Up! Audio comedy deep dive

11.45 – 12.30pm

Join Julia McKenzie, Comedy and Entertainment Commissioner for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4 with Chris Cantrill (Icklewick FM), Ashley Storrie (What’s The Story? Ashley Storrie), Sunil Patel (Sunil Patel: An Idiot’s Guide To Bagging an Heiress) and producer, Ben Sutton, as they discuss the creative process behind their comedy formats on Radio 4. Julia will also give an overview of how shows get commissioned and the wider audio comedy landscape.

Lisa McGee: a life less ordinary

12.00 – 1pm

Known for her remarkable ability to find humour in the most human and heartfelt moments, Lisa McGee is one of the most exciting voices in comedy today. Join her as she sits down to discuss her creative process, the lasting impact of Derry Girls on the Northern Irish comedy scene, and what’s next for her in the world of comedy. Hosted by Marie-Louise Kerr.

Out and out comedy

1.15 – 2pm

Russell T Davies recently noted that openly queer writers are 'still very new' to society – this session will discuss the growing presence of queer voices in comedy. Join panellists Phil Dunning (Smoggie Queens), Michelle de Swarte (Spent), and Josh Cole (Head of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Studios Comedy) as they discuss the progress that has been made in recent years and ask whether there is further to go, along with the challenges of getting their shows on air. Chaired by Emer Maguire.

The big debate: the cost of comedy

1.30 – 2.30pm

Join Steph McGovern as she sits down with a panel of comedy experts from business, editorial and production to debate: Is comedy truly in crisis? What does the future hold? And crucially, what new opportunities can we find in this shifting environment? As we emerge from the halcyon era of co-funding and production models, we find ourselves in an unprecedented, constantly evolving landscape wondering how we can still make brilliant, funny telly while still being able to pay the bills. Panellists: Ash Atalla, Phil Clarke, Janet Shaw, Danny Brocklehurst and Sarah McGettigan.

Fingers and thumbnails: what makes us click?

2.30 – 3.15pm

What makes someone choose your show? How do they know it’s a comedy? Join experts from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audiences as they share researched strategies to ensure your show stands out amidst a sea of true crime documentaries and cooking competitions. This panel will dive into the current comedy streaming landscape, revealing how to enhance visibility with eye-catching imagery and the perfect series title. Learn from the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s recent hits to discover what audiences want in 2025, and get insights to help your programme get that all important click. Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon.

Exploring Northern Irish comedy

3 - 3.45pm

In this session we’ll hear from some of the key comedy voices what makes the Northern Irish humour so unique and how they're taking that to audiences around the world. Panellists to include Shane Todd, Louise Gallagher, Colin Bateman and Ailish McElmeel. Hosted by Eddie Doyle.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Comedy's special relationship: Network and Nations

4 - 4.45pm

This panel is all about the importance of making comedy that reaches wide audiences across the UK, while staying true to the unique voices and cultures of each Nation. Join ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Comedy Commissioners from the Nations and Network to hear how they’ve teamed up to co-commission some stand-out content, discover all the new and exciting opportunities available and find out how, as producers, you can pitch an idea into this increasingly successful commissioning model. Panellists: Jason Butler (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Northern Ireland), Gavin Smith (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Scotland), Paul Forde (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Wales), and Emma Lawson (ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Comedy Commissioning). Hosted by Muriel Gray.

From Ballmacnoose to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Three: meet the funboys

4.15 - 5pm

Funboys has been called ‘quietly horrific’, ‘beautifully bonkers’ and the ‘most fearless comedy in years’. Join the stars and creators to trace their journey from DIY sketches on YouTube to a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Three series and discover the comedy and cultural influences that shaped their warped sense of humour. With special guest host Jamie Demetriou, star of Stath Lets Flats and Fleabag.

Too woke to joke

5.15 - 6pm

A lively and totally un-complied discussion about navigating editorial guidelines – how do we balance the right to creative freedom with responsibility to not cause the audience offence? You’ll hear from experts in the field as they debate how many f***s are too many, are you allowed any ****s at all, and what does even mean, and how would you use it in a sentence? How many times do you have to say * before it starts to become funny, what happens when a joke causes a social media storm, and how editorial policy advisors can help you find your way through ever-evolving broadcast regulations. Plus, you’ll leave with valuable, practical strategies for dealing with compliance and complaints. Hosted by Shane 'That C*nt' Allen.

Peter Foot: The Young Offenders

5.30 – 6.30pm

Join comedy writer and director Peter Foott, creator of The Young Offenders, for an exclusive discussion about the Cork-based hit series. Learn how the show’s unique blend of humour and heart came to life, and the challenges of adapting the successful film into a TV series. The Young Offenders is the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s highest rating comedy with young audiences; Peter will share how to keep a show fresh and engaging through multiple series, along with behind-the-scenes stories and the secrets to making a comedy that resonates with a young demographic. If you want to write and direct comedy films, or TV shows, then you need to hear the secrets of Peter’s success. Hosted by Lata Sharma.

The kids are alright: comedy for a younger audience

6.15 - 6.45pm

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Childrens is a genre full of commissioning opportunities for comedy writers and creators. In this panel Sarah Muller (Senior Head of Children’s Commissioning 7+) is joined by Archie Maddocks (Stand-Up and Writer, Crongton), Sinead Fagan (Writer and Creator, High Hoops), and Matthew Bradley (Writer and Creator, Captain Onion’s Buoyant Academy for Wayward Youth) to talk about the joys, tolls and tricks writing live action comedy and animation for younger audiences.

Comedy short film screening

The Mac, 10 Exchange St, West, Belfast, BT1 2NJ 

7 - 8pm

Finish off the festival with a screening of comedy short films. Relax and enjoy a curated selection showcasing fresh voices and creative storytelling—an ideal way to end the day with plenty of laughs and inspiration. Hosted by William Thompson.