NEARLY 7,000 comedy fans packed shows at all six venues at this year's Wells Comedy Festival.

The ï¬fth annual festival took place from May 24-26 and saw a jump in audience numbers compared to 2018's festival.

A total of 6,954 tickets were sold for nearly 70 shows that took place in Wells Little Theatre (main house and rehearsal room), Cedars Hall, Tramways, The White Hart and The Venue.

The festival included sell-out shows from The Mash Report host Nish Kumar, Taskmaster loser Phil Wang, triple Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Josie Long, I'm a Celeb… contestant Shappi Khorsandi, TV regular Mark Watson and Mock the Week star Ed Gamble.

It all kicked off with Friday night's Opening Gala – with a surprise line-up featuring Phil Wang, Suzi Ruffell, Glenn Moore, Foxdog Studios and Jayde Adams – and rounded off with the Comedians Cinema Club's improvised recreation of Wells' very own Hot Fuzz, as is festival tradition.

Other shows included Britain's Got Talent winner Lost Voice Guy, Uncle star Nick Helm, Live at the Apollo's Hal Cruttenden, impressionist Jan Ravens, I, Daniel Blake lead actor Dave Johns and many more.

There were also local drinks from Mallets Cider, pizzas from Wells favourite Da Luciano's and coffee and cake from The Hatch.

Ben Williams, festival director, said: "This year's Wells Comedy Festival was a huge success – the biggest and best yet. The feedback we've received from audiences and acts has been overwhelmingly positive. A huge thanks to everyone who made it possible – performers, staff, volunteers, venues, sponsors, partners – we couldn't have done it without you."

Andy Vallis, editor of Wells Voice, the festival's media partner, said: "It's been great to be involved with the festival this year and play a part in such a successful event. Everyone who went to a show seems to have enjoyed it – me included."

More details on future festivals and events are available by signing up to the mailing list at www.wellscomfest.com.

• Picture: Ed Gamble at this year's festival photographed by John Williams