THE DEBUTING Rik Mayall Comedy Festival has already won local praise after being shortlisted as a finalist in the Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards 2025.
Rik Mayall Comedy Festival will now battle it out in the hopes of being crowned Best Festival and Event later this year.
Held in the late comedy icon’s hometown of Droitwich Spa from May 31 to June 7, 2025, the week-long celebration honoured Rik Mayall’s legendary career and anarchic spirit.
Drawing in more than 10,000 attendees from across the UK and beyond, the festival featured over 200 events across 30 venues — including stand-up gigs, workshops, film screenings, street performances, fringe shows, and even a pop-up museum.
The Norbury Theatre, where Mayall once performed during his early years, served as the heart of the festival, hosting sell-out performances from comedy greats including Greg Davies, Peter Richardson, and Helen Lederer. Over 75 per cent of headline shows sold out at the volunteer-run venue.
Festivalgoers lauded the event’s warm atmosphere, diverse programming, and emotional resonance, with many describing it as a standout celebration of British comedy and Mayall’s enduring influence.
A highlight of the festival was the touching ‘Memories of Rik’ project, where fans shared over 500 handwritten tributes detailing how the comedians work brought them joy, comforted them through loss, or simply helped them laugh during tough times.
Stuart Panrucker, festival director, said: “It has been a privilege to organise the festival, and we’re absolutely thrilled to be a finalist. This festival was made possible through the tireless efforts of our committee, over 60 volunteers, our sponsors — particularly Isuzu — and the incredible community support.”
With public voting now open, the festival’s supporters are being urged to cast their votes online ahead of the awards ceremony in March 2026.
Visit www.visitworcestershire.org/blog/vote-for-worcestershires-best-event-of-the-year to cast your vote.
