The Southport Comedy Festival, in association with Halliwell Jones Kia, has announced two more brilliant matinee performances for this year’s festival, featuring comedy heavyweights Paul Sinha and Mick Miller.
Following the huge success of Chris McCausland’s sold-out matinee performance at last year’s festival, organisers recognised a growing demand for afternoon comedy shows, giving audiences the chance to enjoy live entertainment and still get home in time for tea.
This year, Jason Manford is performing both matinee and evening shows, with the afternoon performance selling out faster than the evening date.
The Chase Star Paul Sinha Brings Critically Acclaimed New Show to Victoria Park
On Saturday 3 October 2026, the opening Saturday of the festival, Paul Sinha will perform his brand-new show 2 Sinha Lifetime, following on from his acclaimed previous tour Once Sinha Lifetime.
The show received widespread critical praise during last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, earning five-star reviews and being named by Rolling Stone as one of the festival’s must-see comedy shows, while also marking Paul’s 30th year in stand-up comedy.
Paul Sinha is best known to television audiences as “The Sinnerman” on ITV’s The Chase, alongside appearances on Taskmaster, QI, and Would I Lie To You?.
He is also a Rose d’Or Award winner for radio comedy, a Chortle Award winner and an Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee for his stand-up work.
Paul Sinha and Mick Miller join an already outstanding line-up for 2026, including Jason Manford, Jason Byrne, Clinton Baptiste, Henning Wehn, Gary Delaney, Mike Wozniak, Scott Bennett, Laura Smyth, Seann Walsh, Paul Merton and Suki Webster, and Adam Kay, with more shows still to be announced.
Tickets for Paul and Mick go on sale at 10 am on Wednesday 20 May 2026.
The 15th annual Southport Comedy Festival runs from 2–18 October 2026, returning for the sixth consecutive year to its luxury, fully seated and heated Elite Events marquee in the picturesque surroundings of Victoria Park, home of the world-famous Southport Flower Show.
Comedy Legend Mick Miller Set to Deliver Stand-Up Masterclass on Final Day
On Sunday, 18 October 2026, the final day of the 17-day festival, audiences are invited to spend a special afternoon with comedy legend Mick Miller, one of Britain’s most treasured entertainers, who has remained at the top of his game for more than 40 years.
Often referred to as “the bald guy with the long hair”, Mick first rose to prominence during the 1970s on the iconic ITV series The Comedians.
Still as hilarious today, he is one of the few comedians of his generation to successfully transition onto the alternative comedy circuit, building a whole new fan base along the way.
Mick Miller’s extensive television credits include The Comedians, Kings of Comedy, They Think It’s All Over, Comedy World Cup, John Bishop’s Only Joking, Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford, Last Laugh in Vegas, Ideal and The Royal Variety Performance.
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