Angela Barnes swapped a career in health and social care for stand up in 2010 and hasn’t looked back.

Within just a couple of years she had won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2011 and has since toured the UK and starred in BBC Two’s iconic 21 series Mock the Week as a regular, as well as Live at the Apollo, and Hypothetical on Dave.

She is a firm favourite on BBC Radio 4, having featured on The Now Show and The News Quiz – including a recent stint as the host, she also hosted BBC Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack.

Angela co-hosted the less-than-serious popular podcast We Are History, which has just teamed up with Podmasters, with John O’Farrell. Six series strong and with over a million downloads, the two history nerds discuss, explain, and laugh at interesting and quirky episodes from the olden days

Since penning his first children's book in 2018, Ben Miller has become one of the UK's most beloved children's authors and was in the top 10 biggest bestselling Children’s Fiction Author list in both 2021 and 2022. Ben’s books include the Fairytale Woods series, with hilarious diaries from the Big, Bad Wolf, Puss in Boots, Robin Hood Aged 10 ¾, Once Upon A Legend, The Day I Fell Into A Fairytale, How I Became a Dog Called Midnight, The Boy Who Made the World Disappear, The Night We Got Stuck in a Story and the Christmas Elf Chronicles.

A much-loved, longstanding star of film, television and stage, Ben rose to fame as one half of the eponymous comedy duo behind the BAFTA winning The Armstong and Miller Show, with Alexander Armstrong. Currently playing the title role in the hit ITV series Professor T, Ben is also known for his performances as Bough in the JOHNNY ENGLISH feature films alongside Rowan Atkinson, the Colonel in the much-loved Paddington franchise, and Richard Poole in the hugely popular Death In Paradise.

Carol Vorderman MBE is one of the UK's most recognisable broadcasters, bestselling authors and, more recently, a leading political commentator. Raised by a single mother in North Wales, Carol was the first free school meals student from North Wales to study at the University of Cambridge, aged just 17. She was first introduced to the nation as the resident maths expert on Countdown, becoming the first woman to appear on Channel 4 at its launch in 1982. She remained with the programme for 26 years, alongside Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam and Des O’Connor.

Carol believes in women’s independence and has fought for this all of her life. She’s worked underground with 2,000 men, is an instrument-rated private pilot, lives fearlessly and champions many charities including those fighting for women’s rights and health. She is an Honorary Fellow at University of Cambridge and holds many Honorary Doctorates at Universities around the UK. She was the RAF’s first Honorary Group Captain as Ambassador for the Air Cadets and a Board Director of the NASA Challenger Education Centres around the world.

Awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting in 2000, Carol has hosted or appeared on many of the UK's best-loved television programmes, including Loose Women, This Morning, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! & Strictly Come Dancing. Carol brought the e Pride of Britain Awards to our screens in 1999, and has hosted them ever since. She is also a bestselling author, has her own online Maths school (teaching 800,000 children to date), has sold many millions of maths and science books and has worked with a number of government Ministers fighting for children’s online safety and maths education.

George Clarke is an architect, writer, broadcaster, campaigner and storyteller who believes great design should be accessible to everyone. His work shows how thoughtful, sustainable architecture can transform everyday life, whether he is designing homes, restoring historic buildings or presenting George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, which has inspired millions to see the creative potential of where they live. He champions creativity, craft and the true meaning of home. His campaigning focuses on empty homes, social housing and the drive to Net Zero, and he supports organisations including the Kings’s Foundation, the National Trust, Shelter and the Foundation of Light.

Harriet is an award-winning comedian, writer, and actor celebrated for her distinctive voice and brilliantly unpredictable comedy. The ‘breakout contestant’ (Guardian) of the first series of Prime Video’s Last One Laughing. Recently seen on The Last Leg, Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Would I Lie To You, The Jonathan Ross Show, and the Christmas special of Live at the Apollo, she is also a recurring guest on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Jimmy Carr is an award-winning comedian, writer, television host and one of the biggest names in comedy. A household name in UK television, he is best known for hosting 8 Out Of 10 Cats, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Big Fat Quiz and Last One Laughing UK.

Jimmy performs stand-up to sell-out crowds across the globe, bringing his shows to venues in over 50 countries. His last tour show, Terribly Funny, sold well over 1.2 million tickets globally, including in the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, making it the biggest ever international stand up comedy tour. Jimmy’s current tour Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny is currently on sale with dates up until December 2026 and marks the first time this record-breaking comedian has toured in arenas in the UK and Ireland.

Jimmy has accrued a massive following online with over 18 million subscribers across all major social networks. His YouTube channel has 1.7 million subscribers and over one billion views, making him the most followed UK stand up comedian on the platform.

He was also the first UK comedian to sign a stand-up deal with streaming behemoth Netflix in 2015 and currently has four Specials on the platform.

Jodie Kidd is best known for being a television presenter and one of the most successful models of her generation.

She has appeared on the cover of Vogue, opened shows for Givenchy and walked for Alexander McQueen’s debut runway presentation. Jodie walked in the most recent London Fashion week for Ginny Litscher’s beautiful show.

Jodie has enjoyed a successful career as a high-octane Maserati racing driver and her YouTube channel ‘Kidd In A Sweet Shop’, dedicated to her love of cars, has garnered millions of views. Jodie recently partnered with Kwik Fit to present “The Scenic Route,” a social series exploring the UK’s most scenic roads, documenting her love of driving further.

She has taken part in several popular television programmes, including BBC One’s Who Do You Think You Are and Strictly Come Dancing. More recently, she featured as a guest judge on the season two finale of Dress the Nation, where the contestants battle for a life changing fashion mentorship with M&S.

She is the proud Landlady of The Half Moon in Kirdford, West Sussex and supports the ‘Long Live the Local’ campaign, delivering a petition to Downing Street ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget. She recently co-hosted podcast and vodcast series, Three Landlords Walk into a Bar with HEINEKEN SmartDispense®, which explores the challenges and innovations within the British pub industry.

Jodie is a proud ambassador for Delta Roam and IWC watches. Her first book, ‘Balance Your Life – a simple and effective 6-week healthy eating and exercise program to a calmer, healthier you’ shot to the top of the Amazon bestsellers list, receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike.

Julia Bradbury is a well-loved television presenter, author, nature advocate, charity campaigner and number one Sunday Times bestselling author of Hack Yourself Healthy and Walk Yourself Happy. She is best known for turning her lifelong passion for walking into prime-time TV with shows including Britain's Best Walks, Cornwall and Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury and Wainwright's Walks in the Lake District. She manages to bring the outdoors and nature into people's homes and lives, in a warm engaging tone. She started her television career as a show business reporter for breakfast television in Los Angeles, and came back to the UK to launch Channel 5.

Joe Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, is a fitness coach, author and presenter who has inspired millions to move more and feel better. Rising to national fame with his high-energy home workouts, Joe became a household name during lockdown, helping families stay active with his daily PE sessions. He is the bestselling author of multiple healthy cookbooks and the creator of hugely successful fitness programmes. Known for his infectious enthusiasm and down-to-earth approach, Joe’s mission is simple: to make fitness fun, accessible and sustainable for everyone, whatever their age or ability.

Lee Mack is one of the UK’s most recognisable and celebrated comics. His relentless determination to have fun is marvellously infectious, while his energy, finely crafted one-liners, and quick ad-libs have made Lee a firm favourite in households across the country.

Lee first came to prominence winning So You Think You’re Funny at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Five years later, he was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award (Perrier) for his sketch comedy show, which also included Catherine Tate. Since then he has performed multiple hugely successful stand-up tours across the country and in more recent years has been selling out some of the UK’s biggest theatres with long-time collaborators David Mitchell and Rob Brydon.

As a host, Lee is also known for ITV 1’s hugely successful Saturday night game show The 1% Club. Last year, the popularity of the show saw it simultaneously recommissioned for a fourth and fifth series, the first of which aired in Spring 2025. Lee’s performance was nominated for Best Entertainment Performance at the 2024 BAFTAs and the show won Best Quiz Show at the 2025 National Television Awards.

Maisie Adam is fast on her way from being one of the brightest rising stars of the UK comedy scene to becoming a household name.

Maisie's anecdotal material and witty charm have quickly won her praise across the country, and she has appeared on Task Master, Live At The Apollo, A League Of Their Own, and Have I Got News for You.

She is also the host of the hugely successful Big Kick Energy podcast which she co-hosts with friend and fellow comedian Suzi Ruffell, and won Sports Podcast of the Year in the Sports Broadcast Awards just 5 months after the first episode aired.

Matt Weston has established himself as one of the most successful athletes in British winter sports history, redefining excellence in skeleton racing through his fearless performances, relentless work ethic, and record-breaking achievements. Born in Surrey, England, Weston transitioned into skeleton in 2017 through UK Sport’s “Discover Your Gold” programme after competing in rugby and taekwondo, quickly emerging as one of the sport’s brightest talents.

A multiple World Cup, World and European Champion, Weston reached the pinnacle of the sport at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, where he delivered one of the greatest performances ever by a British winter athlete. He captured Olympic Gold in the men’s skeleton event with a dominant, track-record-breaking display before securing a second Gold in the inaugural mixed team skeleton competition. In doing so, Weston became the first British athlete ever to win two medals — both Gold — at a single Winter Olympic Games, as well as the first British man to win Olympic skeleton gold.

Known for his professionalism, composure under pressure, and explosive speed on the ice, Weston has become the face of a new era for British Skeleton. His historic achievements have cemented his legacy as one of Great Britain’s all-time winter sporting greats and an inspirational figure for the next generation of athletes.

Rob Brydon is a much-loved actor, writer and presenter whose career spans television, film, theatre and live performance. He is best known for his role as Uncle Bryn in the hugely successful BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, as well as for hosting the award-winning panel show Would I Lie to You?, where his quick wit and charm have made him a firm audience favourite.

His extensive television credits include The Trip, Marion & Geoff, Human Remains, My Lady Jane, and Roald & Beatrix, alongside presenting roles on Destination X and The Floor. On the big screen, Rob has appeared in films including Barbie, Cinderella and Swimming with Men, while his distinctive voice features in beloved family animations such as The Gruffalo and Zog.

An accomplished live performer, Rob has toured internationally with his show A Night of Songs and Laughter. He is also a published author, with his first children’s book set for release in 2026.

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated thirty years as a co-presenter and the resident word expert on Channel 4's Countdown, and also appears on the show's comedy sister 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Susie comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news, and is the author of several non-fiction books on words and language. Guilty by Definition is her first novel and her second, Death Writ Large, will publish in July this year.

Two years after Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May drove off into the Botswana sunset for the final time, The Grand Tour roars back with a new series packed with big adventure, big horsepower, and big laughs - from crossing the Angolan desert in track cars to exploring Malaysia’s vibrant car culture, before heading to California to test cutting-edge America’s latest and greatest performance cars. The new series of The Grand Tour honours the show’s legacy while driving it into a new era, and we’re very excited to welcome the new presenters to CarFest.

Francis Bourgeois
Rail enthusiast, broadcaster and content creator Francis Bourgeois has become one of the UK’s most recognizable digital personalities, amassing an audience of nearly six million through his warm and infectious trainspotting content. He has fronted projects including Francis and Chris: We Saved a Train (Quest) and Mission to Space with Francis Bourgeois (Channel 4). He has collaborated with major brands such as Gucci, LEGO, M&S, Jean Paul Gaultier and Trainline.

James Engelsman
Car enthusiast and content creator James Engelsman co-hosts the hugely popular automotive YouTube channel Throttle House alongside Thomas Holland. Over eight years, the paid have built an audience of more than 4.5 million subscribers through a mix of expert reviews, ambitious adventures and humour. Originally from the UK, James now lives in Canada.

Thomas Holland
Thomas Holland is a Canadian automotive journalist, content creator and co-host of Throttle House. Known for high quality car films, comedy sketches and road trips, the channel attracts more than 75 million annual YouTube viewers. A former track driving instructor and amateur racing driver, Thomas is passionate about sharing the thrill of driving and inspiring the next generation of car enthusiasts.