After a sell out first year, the team from ‘Comedy at the Castle’ have revealed an all-star line-up, including Al Murray, Paul Smith and Joanne McNally to headline a second year at Powderham Castle, Exeter in 2026.
Comedy at the Castle will transform the stunning medieval castle grounds with household names and emerging talent from the world of comedy plus an exclusive food and drink offering on Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, and Sunday 19th July next year.
Star of the 2025 Royal Variety show Scott Bennett, Radio 4 stalwart Angela Barnes and Live at the Apollo’s Hal Cruttenden are also amongst comics headlining the popular event which drew nearly 3 thousand comedy fans to the castle in the South West in 2025.
Combining evenings of live performances from some of the funniest names in British and Irish comedy with award-winning street food traders; cocktail, craft ale and fizz bars, and top-class live production, Comedy at the Castle has won over legions of laughter aficionados in just a short time.
The inaugural Comedy at the Castle in Exeter hosted Frank Skinner, Russell Kane and Joel Dommett to widespread praise from festival-goers.
Moving into year 2, the team hope to come back bigger and better. Closing out the festival will be British comedy icon: Al Murray. The Pub Landlord is one of the most recognizable and successful comic creations of the past twenty years, and Murray, who has won numerous awards and accolades, continues to fill arenas and theatres around the world.
Opening up the festival will feature Irish comedy superstar and one of the world’s biggest selling comedians in 2025: Joanne McNally.
Paul Smith’s rise to fame in the comedy world has been nothing short of phenomenal. Recently concluding an 18 month, record-breaking European tour, that concluded at London’s O2 Arena last week, the funnyman infamously honed his skills as resident compere for Hot Water Comedy Club Liverpool, and soon evolved into their most prized asset with distinctive charm and cheeky wit.
Tickets for all three evenings of Comedy at the Castle at Powderham Castle can be bought at comedyatthecastle.co.uk/exeter
