Initial schedule announced for Mark Watson’s Access Festival

Streaming festival includes The Covid Arms and No More Jockeys...

The initial schedule has been confirmed for Mark Watson’s Access Festival of streaming shows next month.

His production company Impatient has teamed up with streaming platform NextUp to over 20 show from January 3 to 23, launching with the return of Kiri Pritchard McLean’s Covid Arms, and closing with a final variety show Live From The Monkey Barrel in Edinburgh,

There will also be a reboot of two of Watson’s online projects: No More Jockeys, the YouTube cult game played with Tim Key and Alex Horne and The Company – the sequel to The House – an online interactive choose-your-own-adventure project which he ran in lockdown.

Watson said: ‘I’m thrilled to be curating this festival to celebrate all things digital and comedy.

‘Online comedy was not a fad or a stopgap while we "got through" the pandemic. It became a movement which opened up comedy to thousands of people who have had the door barred to them by health, economic, geographical or other factors. It isn't going away. Also, it will turn January into a month of pure fun - something scientists previously thought impossible.’

Acts will be performing from their own homes, alongside several live-streamed shows from the Monkey Barrel club in Edinburgh, Belly Laughs in Bristol, and NextUp's studios in London.

The festival is available to subscribers to NextUp, which costs £30 a year, while ticket-sharing charity Below The Line will support those who would love to watch but cannot afford it.

This is the schedule so far, with more to be added. Shows are at 7pm unless otherwise statued

Tuesday January 3: The Covid Arms Reopened

Wednesday January 4: No More Jockeys, 8pm
Sunday January 8: John Robertson - The Dark Lighthouse
Tuesday January 10: Stuart Laws - Single Mother of None
Wednesday January 11: Sarah Keyworth
Thursday January 12: Bilal Zafar
Sunday January 15: Joz Norris - is your private dancer (dancer for money)
Monday January 16: Suchandrika Chakrabati
Thursday January 19: Ted Hill and Guests
Saturday January 21: Mark Watson - The Company
Monday January 23: Live From The Monkey Barrel in Edinburgh,