Frankie Boyle and Paul Smith to headline Cobra presents Comedy at the Castle 2025.
One of the UK’s biggest open-air comedy festivals has announced its 2025 programme, taking place in the Courtyard of Warwick Castle from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th May.
13 stars of British comedy, including stand-up A-listers Paul Smith, Frankie Boyle (pictured) and Seann Walsh, will take to the stage over three days in front of the iconic Grade I listed landmark for the third annual Cobra presents: Comedy at the Castle.
Last year’s edition of the weekend extravaganza in May 2024, which also featured a selection of award-winning street food by Digbeth Dining Club along with cocktail, craft beer, fizz bars, comperes and host DJs, welcomed over 3,000 fans of stand-up and observational comedy. The 2025 line-up will see Paul Smith, Adam Rowe, Frankie Boyle, Seann Walsh, Josh Pugh, Helen Bauer, Slim, Laura Smyth, Carl Connelly, Larry Dean, Tez Ilyas, Hayley Ellis and Freddy Quinne perform.
Cobra presents: Comedy at the Castle organisers Midlands based comedy promoters Closeup Comedy and Digbeth Dining Club promise a third edition of unforgettably rib-tickling experiences within the breathtaking surroundings of the riverside medieval heritage site.
Harry Jenkins, director of Cobra presents Comedy at the Castle, said: “We feel very fortunate to be entering our third year of the festival with two successful weekends under our belt.
“2025’s line-up is by far and away our biggest to date, and we couldn’t be happier with how the festival is shaping up. Paul Smith is one of the biggest selling comedians in the world over the past few years, and is will be on an arena tour of the UK and Australia in 2025 – so to be able to secure him for our more intimate setting by his standards is a huge coup for us. Frankie Boyle is of course a household name to most, and is widely regarded as one of the best comics and writers of his generation.
“We’ve also sought to strike a balance by booking some of our favourite circuit comics like Slim, Larry Dean, and Josh Pugh – a local lad from Warwickshire. Naturally, we are very excited to build on the success of 2023 and 2024 and bring the people of the Midlands a really special weekend that everyone can enjoy.
“We’re also delighted to have Cobra Beer back on board for this year as our headline sponsor and sole beer supplier for the weekend.”
Star of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Strictly Come Dancing and Live at the Apollo Seann Walsh will open the festival on Friday 23rd May, followed by Atherstone-born online sensation and critically acclaimed funnyman Josh Pugh.
Star of Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and Live at the Apollo Laura Smyth will also be taking the stage before the multi-award-winning and host of one of the UK’s biggest podcasts Have A Word Adam Rowe headlines the opening night.
Saturday night’s line-up will feature the award-winning podcaster, writer and European touring comedian Helen Bauer. Performing in the middle of the show will be Slim, one of the UK comedy circuit’s best known comics – regarded as “the undisputed king of the black comedy circuit”, and the first Black British comedian to sell out the London Palladium with his own show. Also performing is Carl Donnelly – a twice nominated Edinburgh Comedy Award winner and BBC Radio 4 regular.
Saturday night’s headliner will be Frankie Boyle – one of the UK’s premier authors and comedians. Frankie has penned three best-selling books, produced award-winning documentaries, TV shows and podcasts and hosts a BBC2 show Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. Frankie also has a stand-up special on Netflix.
The final night of the festival, taking place on the Bank Holiday Sunday, opens with multiple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Larry Dean. Larry’s credits include a performance on the Royal Variety Performance 2024, two appearances on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, House of Games, Roast Battle and many more.
Performing in the middle on Sunday will be Tez Ilyas, star of Live at the Apollo, The Tez O’ Clock show on Channel 4 and Man Like Mobeen, plus Hayley Ellis who is Sarah Millican’s tour support. Closing out the final night of the festival will be Paul Smith, the Liverpool-born comedian who has taken the industry by storm with a meteoric rise to the top. Paul is a regular performer on the Arena Circuit, selling out Wembley Arena four times in 2024, with over 100 more dates penned in for 2025 around the UK, Ireland and Australia.
Each evening will be compèred by Closeup Comedy’s resident host Freddy Quinne – behind the UK’s number 1 comedy podcast: Dead Men Talking, and an online sensation with over 200 million views to his name.
Liam Bartlett, General Manager at Warwick Castle, said: “Warwick Castle is delighted to be working in collaboration with DDC and Closeup Comedy again to host Cobra presents Comedy at the Castle. This incredible evening comedy event returns to Warwick Castle following popular demand in 2023 and 2024 and we are looking forward to welcoming comedy fans back to the castle this May to enjoy a line-up of much loved acts.
“Comedy at the Castle follows a successful six-year partnership with Digbeth Dining Club and is a fantastic addition to Warwick Castle’s line-up of unmissable events throughout 2025.”
Tickets for Cobra Presents: Comedy at the Castle, taking place in the Courtyard of Warwock Castle Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2025, are now on sale from £25.00 via comedyatthecastle.co.uk.