West Coast Comedy Festival 2026

Announcing Our Local Comedians

Cumbria’s comedy scene is bursting with sharp minds, big personalities, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else, and our next festival acts prove exactly that.

From icy bus‑route stand‑up to BBC airwaves (with an unexpected detour through dairy farming), these homegrown comedians are bringing their brilliant, distinctly Cumbrian humour to the Rosehill stage.

Tom Little

If you’ve ever thought public transport needed more entertainment, Tom Little has already beaten you to it. After gaining local fame for performing stand-up on the Number 600 bus on a very cold Blue Monday, Tom has become something of a Cumbrian comedy legend.

But don’t let the bus route beginnings fool you, Tom has been crafting his sharp, surreal style for over a decade. He’s the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year 2015, triumphing over fellow finalist Kiri Pritchard-McLean, and he’s also a past BBC New Comedy Award finalist.

Expect clever absurdity, crazy twists, and maybe the only comedian who can say his audience has included pensioners, students, and unsuspecting commuters

Tom Little: Home Alone and Lucian Freud

Pete Otway

You might recognise Pete Otway’s voice from his guest presenting on BBC Radio Cumbria, or perhaps you’ve seen him steering the ship as compère at Rosehill’s Comedy Club.

What you probably haven’t seen is Pete at the business end of a cow, which is exactly where he found himself during his brief and truly unforgettable stint as a dairy farmer. We can’t promise he’ll tell you the full story, but you’re welcome to ask…

Pete now brings his sharp wit, relatable storytelling, and warm charm to stages across the UK, and we're thrilled to welcome him home for the festival.

Pete Otway: Texting Home on a Stag Do

Announcing Our First Comedian of 2026

We are fizzing with excitement to announce our first act of the Festival, you’ve seen her on all the panel shows, shedding sequins wherever she goes and co-host of the best murder podcast going… It’s

Kiri Pritchard-McLean!

This will be Kiri’s first time appearing at Rosehill, where she’ll be fine-tuning jokes for her latest stand-up show before heading to the Edinburgh Festival. Be the first ones to hear them and get your tickets for the full day of chuckles.

Check Out Kiri’s TV Appearances

Would I Lie to You?: Opening the Front Door with a Spanner in her Hand?

The Russel Howard Hour: Clubbing in your 30's