Southport Comedy Festival paid partnership
The Chase star, comedy legend and former doctor Paul Sinha is blessed to be back performing at the 2026 Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia Southport, having suffered two heart attacks during the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival three years ago.
But when I suggest to Paul that another former doctor turned stand-up comedian, Adam Kay, is also on the bill in Southport and could be on hand in case of any more medical emergencies, he’s firmly against the idea.
“Adam Kay wouldn’t be much good if I had another heart attack!” he said.
“He worked as a gynaecologist…”
Paul’s a man who knows his facts well – better than most people in the UK.
After an appearance on The Weakest Link, he was on shows including University Challenge: The Professionals, Are You an Egghead?, Mastermind and Brain of Britain.
He placed 11th in the 2018 World Quizzing Championships.
In 2011, Paul joined the ITV quiz series The Chase as the fourth “Chaser”, with the nicknames “The Sinnerman”, “The Smiling Assassin” and “Sarcasm in a Suit”.
He trained and qualified at St George’s Hospital Medical School and is a former General Practitioner, before deciding his career lay ahead in a different kind of theatre.
He is starring at Southport Comedy Festival on Saturday 3rd October 2026, during the opening weekend of the festival.
Paul is part of an emerging trend at the festival, with afternoon shows now becoming more and more popular among festival-goers.
Also performing matinee shows this year are Jason Manford and Mick Miller.
Paul said: “It’s different, this show being a matinee show. I’ve always performed in the evenings at Southport.
“When I have appeared at Edinburgh Fringe they have always been during afternoons, so I have been doing them for quite a while.
“The audience is always up for it. They aren’t tired when they arrive, they haven’t rushed straight from a long day at work.
“I am not necessarily performing at their only event of the day so there’s not so much pressure!
“They’re much more popular with a lot of festival goers. It means they can see the show and then head out into Southport for a night out or something to eat, or they can stay on and watch the Southport New Comedian Competition which is taking place in the evening after my show.
“If you love your live comedy you can catch two great shows in one day!”
Paul is a prolific comedy writer. He has always been determined to create new and exciting material for people watching his sets.
People in Southport may have seen his previous iteration – the Talking Heads-inspired ‘One Sinha Lifetime’.
Now you can see him perform his brand-new gig – ‘2 Sinha Lifetime’.
The show received widespread critical praise during last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, earning five-star reviews and being named by Rolling Stone as one of the festival’s must-see comedy events, while also marking Paul’s 30th year in stand-up comedy.
Paul said: “Many people will recognise this as a sequel, which contains a lot of autobiographical material, as well as some new songs.”
Paul suffered two heart attacks at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, which was followed by a coronary bypass operation after he was rushed to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.
It’s good news for comedy lovers that he’s back – and back with a brand new show, some of the material for which is taken from his painful ordeal.
He said: “Having those heart attacks was very scary. It’s the first time I’ve ever had any heart problems.
“Some of the events that followed afterwards however were quite slapstick, and that is the thing about life.
“When you go through an experience that is extremely serious, it doesn’t mean that funny things can’t happen too.
“When the bleak experiences happen, it’s good to turn it into comedy!
“When I was in the hospital, I was thinking to myself ‘this will make some wonderful material’.”
It was just fortunate for Paul, and for comedy lovers, that it was real heart surgeons – and not stand-up comedian and former gynaecologist Adam Kay – carrying out his heart operation.
The 17 day Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia Southport is running from Friday 2nd to Sunday 18th October 2026 featuring Jason Byrne, Paul Sinha, Jason Manford, Clinton Baptiste, Jimeoin, Henning When, Gary Delaney, Paul Merton and Suki Webster, Adam Kay, Mike Wozniak, Scott Bennett, Mick Miller and Seann Walsh.
As well as the headline touring shows The Southport New Comedian of the year Grand Final returns sponsored by Dragon Soop. Festival-goers can also rewind the clock and dance the night away as Comedy Bingo Goes Back to the 90s returns for another nostalgic night of fun.
It all takes place under canvas in a heated and seated luxury marquee courtesy of Elite Events in the beautiful grounds of the Victoria Park, home of the world-renowned Southport Flower Show
The Southport Comedy Festival organisers would like to thank all the businesses who keep Southport Smiling year after year, check out their logos on the festival website.
Visit southportcomedyfestival.com for full line-up, information and direct links to book tickets.
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