Deirdre O'Kane to headline Electric Picnic Comedy Arena

Hannah Kate Costello

Deirdre O'Kane will headline this year's Comedy Arena at the Electric Picnic.

She'll be joined by Mario Rosenstock, the Gift Grub creator who last year became the first Irish comedian to sell out the 3Arena, and Reggie Watts, the musician and comedian best known as the band leader on the Late Late Show with James Corden.

O'Kane will headline the Friday session.

The wider lineup leans heavily on Northern Ireland's comedy scene, with Shane Todd, Vittorio Angelone, Emer Maguire, Paddy McDonnell and Diona Doherty all featuring. Maguire, recently named one of Channel 4's top 10 new comedy talents, will bring material from her upcoming sitcom Socially Awkward.

Other Irish comedians due to appear at the EP include David McSavage, Mike Rice, Rachel Galvo, Aoife Dunne, David Nihill, Enya Martin, Kevin McGahern and Alison Spittle, alongside a long list of festival regulars, including Bernard Casey, Bernard O’Shea and Laugh Out Loud star Martin Angolo.

New talent gets its usual platform too, with a dozen acts making their Electric Picnic debuts this year, including Darren Gaffney, Louisa Ní Éideáin, and Taran O’Sullivan. 

Damo Clark and Karl Spain will return as MCs for the weekend.

The Comedy Arena runs from Friday, August 28th, until Sunday, August 30th.