Broadcaster ends its festival sponsorship

TV channel Dave has ended its sponsorship of the Leicester Comedy Festival after five years.

Organisers are now seeking a new backer after the broadcaster decided not to renew its contract, for an undisclosed fee.

The sponsorship has helped the festival double in size, and directly help launch events such as the national pun competition, which attracts nationwide attention.

However, festival founder Geoff Rowe, who has run the event since 1994, says next year's festival will take place as planned between February 8 and February 26.

He told the Leicester Mercury: 'It's sad this chapter in the Leicester Comedy Festival story has come to an end but we are confident we will find new supporters and ways of funding the festival.'

This year's festival was attended by than 100,000 people over nearly 800 events.

Steve North from Dave said the partnership – which won marketing industry awards – had been a success and that he hoped to 'retain a close relationship with Leicester Comedy Festival'.

Published: 15 Apr 2016