Father Ted’s Ardal O’Hanlon confirmed for Southport Comedy Festival 2025

The Southport Comedy Festival is delighted to announce yet another huge name for next year’s 14^th annual Southport Comedy Festival under canvas at Victoria Park.

Irish comedian Ardal O’Hanlon makes his first visit to the festival on Thursday 9 October 2025 with a brand-new show ‘Not Himself’. 

Tickets go on sale on Thursday 31 October 2024.

Ardal is not only an acclaimed stand-up comedian who has performed world-wide. He will be familiar to many from his appearances in TV shows such as Taskmaster, Would I Love To You?, leading roles in Death In Paradise, Father Ted and My Hero as well as cameos in Derry Girls, The Women In The Wall, Return to Paradise and Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything.

He will soon be seen in the feature film, Fran The Man, and the new Netflix series, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, as well as the CW drama, Sherlock and Daughter.

Tickets are available via the Southport Comedy Festival website: Southport Comedy Festival 

About the show

Oh, it’s all there! All the trademarks are in evidence in Ardal’s latest show. Beautifully crafted stand-up comedy? Yes. Celebrated use of language? Tick. Lateral thinking, surreal flourishes, sharp observations? Of course. 

As for the occasional profundity? Maybe. Despite his best attempts over many decades to put the world to rights, it is still a colossal mess. And so, Ardal O’Hanlon has no choice but to go out on the road again. 

Like the good comedy doctor he is, he fearlessly diagnoses the various pathologies and neuroses that are currently ravaging humanity. Disclaimer: No solutions provided. 

After an alarming experience at the supermarket, Ardal reflects on who he is as a man and a comedian. He examines his own ethnic and religious background. And thinks twice about the very core of his identity as a voice of reason. 

Is everything a big lie? With no major trauma of his own to draw on for material, apart from the drag of getting older, he also turns his gaze outwards at the joys and follies of contemporary life. Towel Animals? A.I.? Chair Yoga? Cauliflower as a main course? Yes. Yes. Yes. And Yes. No current idiocy is left unexamined. With a highly developed sense of the ridiculous, and proper comedy bones, NOT HIMSELF, is a testament to the healing power of humour. And the joy of jokes.

Ardal is the second name to be announced for the 17-day Southport Comedy Festival which takes place from Friday 3^rd to Sunday 19^th October 2025. 

Star of TV Chris McCausland will be appearing at the festival on Sunday 5 October 2025 with tickets going  on sale on Monday 28 October 2024.  Chris can currently be seen on Strictly Come Dancing but has also appeared on Flagship shows such as Would I Lie to You, Have I Got News for You, The Royal Variety, QI, Blankety Blank, The Last Leg, Live at the Apollo and tons more as well.

The 14^th annual Southport Comedy Festival will be staged for a fifth year in a giant luxury heated and seated marquee courtesy of Elite Marquees in the beautiful grounds of Victoria Park, home of the world-renowned Southport Flower Show. Thousands of comedy goers came along over the last four years to enjoy the festival in a marquee and the feedback has been so good that it is all happening again.

The festival has more big names to announce over the next few months so keep an eye on the festival website or join the mailing list to find out first who will be making Southport Smile next October.

Show details

• Show: Ardal O’Hanlon
• Show Title: Not Himself
• Date: Thursday 9 October 2025
• Venue: Southport Comedy Festival Under Canvas at Victoria Park in Southport, Esplanade, Southport, PR8 1RX
• Ticket Price: £ 26 +BF
• Doors: 7pm
• Show: 8pm
• Age restriction: 16+

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