It’s back, no joke: the Absolute Radio Comedy Emporium, major hit of last year’s festival, returns to the beautiful Great Tew Estate, bringing a hilarious festival-long line-up of the very best from the UK comedy circuit. 

Back by popular demand as Master of Ceremonies is the brilliant Aussie JARRED CHRISTMAS, joined on Saturday June 30thby Absolute Radio’s very own award-winning presenter CHRISTIAN O’CONNELL. 

Between them, they’ll be introducing over 30 top rank, hand-picked comedy acts, including, on Friday June 29th...LUKE WRIGHT, a genius performance poet the Scotsman called “outstanding” and “consistently funny”...TIM KEY, award-winning innovator and star of “Mid Morning Matters-with Alan Partridge”... the extraordinary lunatic NICK HELM, ...Chortle’s Best Newcomer and genuine one-off PAT CAHILL ...and RICHARD HERRING, Stewart Lee’s collaborator and star of BBC Radio 4’s “Richard Herring’s Objective”. 

Christian O’Connell comes fresh from his unique one-man show Man on Wireless; completely unscripted, the show at the Soho Theatre in London’s West End was also broadcast live to the nation on Absolute Radio. It broke new ground with its no music, no adverts and no-safety-net approach to stand-up. 

The breakfast show host said “Cold beer, live music and the great outdoors - this is the comedy gig of my dreams! I’m seriously excited about introducing some of the best comedians from around the UK to the Cornbury crowd. They do say that comedy is the new rock ‘n’ roll, however that won’t stop me putting earplugs, a comfy pillow and some slippers on my rider.” 

This is just the latest in a long line of comedy partnerships for Absolute Radio; the station boasts a wealth of comedy talent on its roster including Frank Skinner, Dave Gorman, Alun Cochrane, Geoff Lloyd and Johnny Vaughan. 

Absolute Radio will be interviewing all of the biggest names on the Cornbury line-up as they enjoy this uniquely British festival. The videos will be available to watch at absoluteradio.co.uk across the weekend. 

Topping the bill on Saturday in the Absolute Radio Comedy Emporium are the stunning team of FRISKY AND MANNISH who stormed their spot in triumph last year and return as recent winners of the London Cabaret Awards and the Fringe World Award for a Cabaret Act. 

The same day you can catch the legendary phone-in star BARRY FROM WATFORD, JOE LYCETT, one of the hottest emerging stars on the scene who’s already toured with Jack Whitehall and was co-host of BBC1’s “Epic Win”, and TOTALLY TOM, Etonians Tom Stourton and Tom Palmer whose nominated Edinburgh show last year has already secured them a Channel 4 pilot. 

Sunday kicks off with the grammatically-challenged SHEEPS, as appreciated on “Frank Skinner & Friends”, the brilliant IDIOTS OF ANTS and the Irish hip-hop duo ABANDOMAN who won a standing ovation last year. The entertainment will continue into the afternoon with the outstanding MARK WATSON, now an international comedy star and never off our TV and radio channels.

Festival Director HUGH PHILLIMORE is in no doubt about Cornbury’s comedy credentials...“I’m really delighted to welcome the Absolute Radio Comedy Emporium back to Cornbury...” enthuses Hugh, “Comedy has become such a key element in modern culture that it deserves to be presented as strongly at festivals as any music or other performance art - and at Cornbury it is: with a big thank you to Absolute Radio, we do comedy really well and the bill this year is sensational.” 

Determined not only to tickle the funny bones, but also entertain the craniums of festival-goers, Cornbury has also announced that QI finally join the family, exclusively to launch their thrilling new game at the festival in the new QI Emporium. The best-loved BBC panel show will be bringing their famous Elves for problem solving and mooting the attendance of veritable panoply of celeb panellists - could we be looking at a Fry & Laurie reunion moment we ask? 

Cornbury Festival, The Great Tew Estate, Oxfordshire, OX7 4AH 

Ticket Prices: 

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD-OUT 

GENERAL TICKETS   click Here for tickets

Adult Weekend:  £150 / with camping  £175
Young Person’s Weekend (aged 13-16):  £75 / with camping £100
Child (aged 3-12) and Over 70s Weekend:  £10 / with camping £15
Adult Day:  Friday/Sunday £65, Saturday £70
Young Person’s Day:  Friday/Sunday £30, Saturday £35
Child (aged 3-12) and Over 70s Day:  £10

All children aged 2 and under, and Disabled Carers FREE 

VIP TICKETS

Adult (inc Over 70s) Weekend:  £250 / with camping £275
Young Person’s Weekend (aged 13-16):  £125 / with camping £150
Child (aged 3-12) Weekend:  £20 / with camping £25
Adult (inc Over 70s) Day:  £130
Young Person’s Day:  £65
Child (aged 3-12) Day:  £20

All children aged 2 and under, and Disabled Carers FREE

All tickets subject to booking fees