Live at Connexin: Chris Ramsey to headline launch of Hull Comedy Festival
LAUNCH EVENT: Hull Comedy Festival kicks off at Connexin Live
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Comedy superstar Chris Ramsey is to headline a special launch event for Hull Comedy Festival this November.
The 2024 festival will launch with a special show at Connexin Live, Hull on Friday, November 1 to celebrate their 18th event. It will be the biggest show in the festival’s history.
Chris Ramsey will be joined by Chloe Petts and other comedians yet to be announced at the launch event, called Live at Connexin. Tickets go on general sale on Friday, June 28.
Hull Comedy Festival has been a mainstay in the region since the first event in 2007. Taking place in November, the festival brings some of the UK’s best comedy talent to multiple venues across the city.
TOP ACT: Chris Ramsey
Festival organisers have teamed up with Connexin Live to host a comedy showcase, which will see five top-class comedians take to the Myton Street venue’s stage. Chris Ramsey will headline the show, with Chloe Petts hosting proceedings. Other comedians will be announced soon.
The festival returns to Connexin Live for the first time since 2018 when the arena – then known as Hull Venue – hosted a test event before the official opening by Van Morrison.
Sam Ryder, general manager at Connexin Live, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Hull Comedy Festival to host the biggest show in the festival’s history. We all still fondly remember the test event held in the summer of 2018 to help get the arena open and we’re very much looking forward to the festival’s return in November.”
Jed Salisbury, director of Hull Comedy Festival, said: “l am delighted with our collaboration at Connexin Live. To partner with a venue that injects fresh life into Hull, this partnership presents the festival with a fantastic opportunity to welcome national comedy fans to the city and to bring eyes to grassroots comedy in Hull, encouraging greater support for Hull’s talented comedians.
“We’re excited to host this year's event at Connexin Live and celebrate the vibrant comedy scene that that is forever growing in Hull.”
Gary Jennison, creative director at Hull Comedy Festival, said: “We're thrilled to be bringing a unique, multi-award-winning comedy line-up to Connexin Live. This will be the biggest event the Hull Comedy Festival has programmed.
“The festival is already on the icons wall at the venue and this event, being able to bring one of the biggest names in comedy with a sprinkle of Hull talent and multi-award-winning support acts, will be a night to remember and shine a light on the region’s biggest comedy festival and the amazing comedy talent we have in the region.
“We are excited to showcase what the festival is all about on the biggest stage available and who knows, this could put us on the comedy map, whatever that is.”
Chris Ramsey is a regular face on TV. As well as Taskmaster (Channel 4), Chris is a recurring guest presenter for the One Show (BBC One) and hosted two series of his very own show, The Chris Ramsey Show and Chris Ramsey’s Stand up Central (Comedy Central). In 2019, Chris was a semi-finalist of 2019’s Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One).
He has also appeared on TV hosting I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp (ITV2) as well as appearing in the Royal Variety Performance (ITV) and Live at the Apollo (BBC1), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC Two), A League of Their Own (Sky Max), 8 Out of 10 Cats, Celebrity Gogglebox (Channel 4), and Celebrity Juice, (ITV2), to name a few.
HOST: Chloe Petts
Chloe Petts has been a regular on The Frank Skinner Show (Absolute Radio), World Cup Breakfast (Sky Sports) and previously for Good Morning Euros (Sky Sports) for the UEFA Women’s Euros, and has also appeared on MOTDx (BBC), Jonathan Ross’s Comedy Club (ITV), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two), Random Acts (Channel 4), Hypothetical (Dave), Fighting Talk (BBC Radio 5 Live), BBC Three Quickies (BBC Three), as well as recently winning Pointless Celebrities (BBC One).
This year’s Hull Comedy Festival features shows at venues including Hull Truck Theatre, Hull Comedy Lounge and the Edge Hub in late October and November.
There will be a variety of acts and performances including stand-up, variety, touring shows, work in progress gigs, family friendly events and comedy talent from across the UK.
Tickets for Live at Connexin – priced £32.50 each plus booking fee – will be available from 10am on Friday, June 28 from www.connexinlivehull.com or by visiting new official ticketing partner AXS. VIP and hospitality upgrades are also available for all shows, email hull@eu.asmglobal.com for further details.