Five best music festivals for comedy

The identity of a festival's comedy headliners has become almost as big news as names of those acts playing the main stage and this summer is no different. Most of the major events have unveiled a host of big names familiar to TV watchers and here we pick out some of the highlights if you're looking for laughs this summer. 

Latitude 14th - 17th July

Latitude boasts the largest collection of comics this summer as it celebrates its tenth anniversary in style. Returning to headline the Comedy Arena is Russell Howard who performed at the first ever Latitude back in 2006. Since then he's become one of the UK's most successful comedians with his TV show Russel Howard's Good News and numerous sold out tours.

Also appearing is another TV regular in the guise of Josh Widdecombe, star of Channel 4's The Last Leg and his own BBC3 sitcom Josh. Other well known names include Have I got News For You's Paul Merton, Mark Watson, Robin Ince, Josie Long and Mark Steele.

Shrewsbury Fields Forever 15th - 17th July 

Although the Shropshire-based festival hasn't announced its comedy names yet, the last few years have seen an impressive list of funnymen grace the tent at the Quarry Town Park. Past headliners include Russell Kane, Lee Nelson, Justin Moorhouse, Dylan Moran, Lucy Porter and Mark Watson, so expect this July's bill to be equally full of laughs. Away from the comedy, Happy Mondays and Dizzee Rascal have both been confirmed. 

V Festival 20th - 21st August

While V Festival wheels out pop's big guns in the form of Justin Bieber and Rihanna, its comedy line up shouldn't too shabby either. Although the full line up hasn't been confirmed yet, expect an announcement soon. Last year's selection saw controversial Scotsman Frankie Boyle headline the Glee Club Comedy Tent, along with Essex boy Russell Kane with a strong supporting bill including Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi, Nick Helm and Gary Delaney, so expect a similar heavyweight line up in 2016. 

Festival No.6 1st - 4th September 

There's something for everyone at Festival No.6 and unsurprisingly there's plenty of funny people to keep you amused while staying in Portmeirion. Highlights include punk poet John Cooper Clarke, Sarah Pascoe and the QI Quiz, hosted by the show's head researcher, John Mitchison.

End of the Road 2nd - 4th September 

Stewart Lee is the main headliner at End of the Road and if you've never seen him live you're in for an experience. His BBC2 series Comedy Vehicle has established him as one of the most important voices in UK comedy, confirming Lee’s wildly successful return to stand-up after breaking off from the form in the early 2000s, when he published his first novel and directed Jerry Springer: The Opera. Other names will be added to the line up, with last year's festival boasting the likes of Sarah Pascoe, Robin Ince and Phill Jupitis. 

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