The First Ellesmere Port Comedy Festival Promises To Pack A Punchline

Prepare to have your funny bone tweaked and your ribs tickled as Ellesmere Port holds its first comedy festival.

The inaugural event takes place on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March when some of the nation's funniest men and women will descend on the town's Civic Hall.

>From newly-discovered talent from the Edinburgh Fringe to household names on tour, all performers at the Ellesmere Port Comedy Festival will be at the top of their game.

See some of the country's best-known acts and stumble across the next big thing, all under one roof this spring.

The laughter starts on Friday March 8 when Our Rita's presents a fantastic night of headline comedians from the TV with the cream of the UK and International comedy circuit for the first annual Ellesmere Port Comedy Festival.

The line-up for this spectacular show includes star of Live at the Comedy Store and Roast Battle Elliot Steel, viral sensation 'Tiny Tim' Bradbury, Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Jack Gleadow and Rita's favourite Nina Gilligan (Liverpool Comedian of the Year).

The comedy continues on Saturday March 9 when there are no fewer than five shows taking place on the same day.

The fun kicks off at 1pm with Morbid, a new pilot comedy set in Ellesmere Port. When a brother and sister sadly lose their parents in the opening episode, they realise it's now down to them to keep the funeral directors family business afloat with often disastrous consequences.

Join writers Michael Dee and Elric Cadwallader, and lead actor Kerry Sirrell, for an hour-long talk about the production showing clips, and discussing the future of the independent sitcom.

Morbid is followed by a visit by Stockport's finest - and the Edinburgh Fringe's favourite housewife, Barbara Nice, and her new show Raffle.

Enjoy an afternoon of proper good fun, along with a complimentary raffle ticket, from Phoenix Nights' actress and comedian Janice Connolly who promises a playful, life-affirming show for all the family.

Stand-up and comedy writer Lou Sanders is appearing not once but twice in the festival, including a special preview of her new Edinburgh Fringe show The Face That Launched a Thousand Dicks which is being billed as "a real giggle-fest".

Sanders, who has written for acts including Miranda Hart, has appeared on TV shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Comic Relief and Russell Howard's Good News.

Her second show at the Civic Hall is Shame Pig, in which she discusses stabby stepmothers and alcohol issues as she wallows in her own shame.

Finally, Stephen Bailey presents Our Kid, a story that is full of Northern warmth, has some working-class guilt, and a bit of blue.

Bailey's recent TV work includes presenting Celebs on the Farm on C5, resident agony uncle on ITV's Zoe Ball on Sunday, and appearances on Comedy Central's Live at The Comedy Store and Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side.

Festival director Jack Woodhouse said: "We're really excited about the high-quality line-up we've brought together for this inaugural Ellesmere Port Comedy Festival.

"We wanted to create something new and exciting in the area. The people of Ellesmere Port love a good laugh, and we know they'll come out in force to support what we hope will become an annual event. We've got big plans for the festival, and we can't wait for March.

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