Reggie joins Russell Howard as line-up confirmed

Reggie Watts is returning to the UK for an appearance at this year's Latitude festival, sharing the bill with headliner Russell Howard.

The cult musical comic currently leads the house band for The Late Late Show with James Corden, but he will be heading to Suffolk for July's event.

Other big names confirmed as taking part as the bulk of the line-up is released today, include Al Murray, Josh Widdicombe, The Boy With Tape On His Face, Mark Watson and Paul Merton, who'll be performing with his 'Impro Chums': Mike McShane, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster.Howard will be topping the bill in the comedy arena on Friday, with two more headliners yet to be announced.

Latitude's curator of the arts, Tania Harrison said: 'Latitude has always prided itself on the breadth of our line-ups and this year is very exciting. There's a home for every kind of comic and comedy fan this year.'  

As formerly reported on Chortle, Liam Williams is to unveil his debut play Travesty, about 'a couple of young, slightly lost, middle-class people' in the festival's theatre arena, where Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc will be acting in a new production of The Importance of Being Earnest. And Mark Thomas will be premiering his stand-up theatre show, Red Shed, about the venue where he first started to perform in public, the Wakefield Labour Club.

Finalists from this year's Chortle Student Comedy Awards will again open proceedings in the comedy arena on Friday, while previous alumni appearing across the festival include Iain Stirling, Ivo Graham, Richard Gadd, Phil Wang, Rhys James, Jamali Maddix, Sean McLoughlin, Elf Lyons, Lauren Pattison and David Elms.

The other comedians taking part are:

David O'Doherty, Robin Ince and Josie Long
Sara Pascoe
Hal Cruttenden
Sam Simmons
Simon Evans
Mark Steel
Nick Helm
Joe Lycett
Kerry Godliman
Pappy's
The Horne Section
Daniel Sloss
James Acaster
Alex Edelman
Nish Kumar
Joel Dommett
Max And Ivan
John Robins and Elis James
Marcel Lucont
Cardinal Burns
Jamie Demetriou
Ellie White
Felicity Ward
Deborah Frances-White and Sofie Hagen
Luke Kempner
Angela Barnes
Al Porter
David Morgan
Iain Stirling
Shazia Mirza
Comedian's Cinema Club With Eric Lampaert
David Elms
Rhys James
Jamie Wood
Phil Wang
Bobby Mair
Kieran Hodgson
Richard Gadd
Lazy Susan
Massive Dad
Gein's Family Giftshop
Suzi Ruffell
Sean McLoughlin
Spencer Jones
Gabriel Bisset-Smith
Daphne
Gráinne Maguire
Stuart Goldsmith
Robert Cawsey
Pierre Novellie
Elliot Steel
Tez Ilyas, Lloyd Griffith
Lolly Adefope
Beth Vyse
Goose
Tom Lucy
Fin Taylor
Jordan Brookes
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Steve Bugeja
Kae Kurd
Mo Gilligan
Twayna Mayne
Eshaan Akbar
Funmbi Omotayo
Sophie Willan
Katia Kvinge
Brennan Reece
Rose Matafeo
Danny O'Brien
Kate Lucas
Emma Sidi
Eleanor Tiernan
Laura Lexx
Masud Milas
Sarah Keyworth
Joe Sutherland
Sarah Bennetto's Storytellers Club

Cabaret names also announced today include Duckie, Tina C, Margaret Thatcher Queen Of Game Shows, Dusty Limits, Des O'C onnorand Sarah-Louise Young.

Also previously announced were comics playing the poetry tent, including Rob Auton, John Hegley, Atilla The Stockbroker, John Osborne and Henry Normal – the TV producer recently returned to performing.

Music headliners are The Maccabees on Friday night, The National on Saturday and New Order on Sunday. Tickets for the event in Henham Park from July 14 to 17 are on sale here.

Published: 24 Mar 2016