Line-up also includes Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan and Tom Davis

Sir Lenny Henry will headline this year’s Rode Comedy Festival, the Somerset event has announced.

Henry will be joined in the headline slots by Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan, Tom Davis, Jen Brister and Iain Stirling across the five-night event.

Also on the bill are Zoë Lyons and Tom Wrigglesworth, both familiar to Radio 4 listeners; Tom Rosenthal, who has appeared in Friday Night Dinner and Plebs; Laura Smyth, a Funny Women award winner and more.

All shows will be hosted by Jarred Christmas, the New Zealand comedian who co-founded the festival, alongside beatboxer Hobbit.

New this year, the pair will also host an afternoon gameshow featuring Rhod Gilbert and a number of unannounced guests, raising money for two local charities: Dorothy House and We Hear You, a cancer counselling service based in Frome.

This is being billed as Sir Lenny’s only appearance at a comedy festival in 2026 – although he is also playing Latitude in Suffolk in July. 

The festival was set up by Christmas and arts marketer Amelia Christmas after the pandemic shut down live events. This year’s festival runs from August 26 to 30.

General sale tickets go on sale on Tuesday at 10am. 

Published: 1 May 2026