Annual Liverpool Comedy Festival Returns Today

The annual outing of Liverpool Comedy Festival returns for a lucky 13th year and with 13 days of the finest UK comedy performers, from today 23 September until Sunday 5 October, in venues across Britain's funniest city.

Brought to you by The Comedy Trust, this year's festival sees a whole host of the biggest names in comedy from Monty Python legend Michael Palin at the Echo Arena to British Comedy Award winners and BAFTA nominees Cardinal Burns at the Epstein Theatre. The big names continue as the Unity Theatre showcase the legendary Sean Hughes, Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Bridget Christie plus many more. Treading the boards at the Liverpool Royal Court is Sony Gold Award winner Robin Ince and musical maverick Vikki Stone.

The stand-up comedy scene is only as strong as the talented acts within it, in Liverpool they are plentiful. There is huge excitement building with the festival launching new shows from local legends Chris Cairns, Silky, Steve Gribbin, Laurence Clarke, Dave Twentyman, Adam Rowe and Jake Mills, plus the long-awaited debut show from comedian Tony Carroll. Check out the full line up of stand-up acts at Liverpool's yearlong comedy clubs Laughterhouse Comedy, Hot Water Comedy Club, Comedy Central and Liverpool Comedy Cellar.

Throughout the run of the festival is one of the funniest farces ever written, Noises Off at the Royal Court from 5 September - 4 October takes a look at the antics that happens backstage during a show? An all-star cast including Allo Allo's Kim Hartman and Coronation Street's Tupele Dorgu will be making you laugh all Festival long.

Sam Avery, Festival Manager and Comedian said "In my first year as Festival Manager I am absolutely thrilled with the line-up for the 13th annual Liverpool Comedy Festival. It's going to be more diverse than the Speke night bus with a huge cross section of comedians performing from Michael Palin, Cardinal Burns and Sean Hughes to our own big name comedians like Chris Cairns, Silky and Steve Gribbin. There are plenty of opportunities to see our new up and coming talent and it is going to be great to see comedy expand from our regular comedy venues to places you will least expect."

As well as programming in to the city's usual performance venues and comedy clubs, there will be acts lined-up to perform in bars, shops, schools and even people's houses. There is also comedy coach tours, kids shows, pub crawls, poets, podcasts, open mic nights, quizzes, magicians, networking events, rap battles, plays, sketch groups, plus their first outdoor event 'Tee Hee In The Park' in Williamson Square in conjunction with Everton in the Community.

To really immerse yourself in the festival then experience new talent and buy a ticket for someone you've never heard of. New talent can be heard at 81 Renshaw St, The Pilgrim and Hatters Hostel, with most shows only £5 for a double bill and 2 hours entertainment in the company of some of the stars of tomorrow!

Don't miss one of Liverpool's favourite and longest-standing festivals, the Liverpool Comedy Festival from 23 September - 5 October in venues across the city.

Visit www.Liverpoolcomedyfestival.com for full line-up, information and direct links to book tickets.