They say all political careers end in tears.

In Brandreth's case it's tears of laughter as the actor, author, ex-MP, One Show reporter and QI, Have I Got News For You and Countdown star is back on tour with his new show celebrating all things theatrical.

Without hesitation or repetition (and just a touch of deviation), the BBC Radio 4 Just a Minute regular delivers dazzling wit, wisdom, high drama, low comedy and hilarious name-dropping.

WHY? ‘A master raconteur’ ★★★★★ The Telegraph

‘Total joy’ ★★★★★ Scotsman

Suitable for ages 11+ years.

Courtyard Theatre
£20

@GlyesB1
@nordenfarm

Gyles Brandreth's Website

•  13 Apr from £20
•  14 Apr from £20

Andrew Doyle is one of the UK’s foremost political satirists.

Friendly Fire is his seventh solo stand-up show. It follows the critically acclaimed Thought Crimes, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year and later transferred to the Soho Theatre in London.

Andrew is co-writer of internet sensation Jonathan Pie, and has collaborated with Pie creator Tom Walker on numerous viral videos. Their response to Donald Trump’s election has been viewed online more than 150 million times and a more recent piece was described by Ricky Gervais as “one of the most perfect (and important) pieces of comedy I’ve ever seen."

WHY? 'Comedy gold' Broadway Baby

'Prepare for all your internal organs to burst with laughter' Independent

'One of the country’s most exciting comedic talents' Gay Times

'Utterly hilarious' Fest

Studio
£11

Andrew's Website

•  24 Jan from £11

After a sellout national tour in 2017, Ed Gamble is back with another bracing flurry of idiocy.

He’s been seen on BBC2’s Mock the Week, Sky’s The Russell Howard Hour, Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Comedy Central’s Drunk History, BBC2’s The Apprentice You’re Fired and more.

WHY? ‘A comic who may be about to become more of a force in the game’ Chortle

Courtyard Theatre
£15

@nordenfarm
@EdGambleComedy

Ed Gamble's Website

•  31 Jan SOLD OUT

These days Justin’s not certain about anything apart from his uncertainty – Brexit looms, it appears the Cold War is being rebooted and that’s before we begin to worry about what’s happening in America…..closer to home he’s starting to feel redundant as a parent. One kid is leaving home, the dog is getting older and doesn’t need much walking, and the youngest kid hits thirteen and cancels the family subscription to The Beano.

On top of this the golden age of the Northern straight white male comedian has gone the way of the dinosaurs. How will he adapt if he wants to survive? What next for this Northern Joker? What can he talk to his daughter about now she cares little for Dennis the Menace and the Bash St Kids?

Hang on. Perhaps nothing has changed that much. When he was thirteen, the Russians were scary, the White House was a madhouse and he’d never been to Europe anyhow. Thinking back this was when his reading habits changed too, more Dark Knight than Desperate Dan, more Catwoman than Minnie the Minx. Perhaps our heroes never went away….they just waited for us to pick them up again. Perhaps she just needs a different type of comic.

WHY? 'Comedic tour-de-force… brought a tear to a critical glass eye' The Herald

'Simultaneously down-to-earth and out of this world' The List

'The amount of first-rate comic craft that goes into his deceptively simple routines is worthy of admiration' Guardian

Age guidance: 14+ years.

Studio
£14 (£12 unwaged)

@justinmoorhouse
@nordenfarm

Justin Moorhouse's Website

•   1 Feb LIMITED

The Dave Joke of the Fringe Winner, Cambridge mathematics dropout and professional poker player heads to Maidenhead following a sold out, award nominated run at the Edinburgh Festival.

Born to Chinese immigrants in the UK, Ken never had the most normal upbringing. The show is a tale of his unique childhood, exploring his obsession with toy lambs and his complicated relationship with his parents.

WHY? 'A fiercely accomplished talent' The Scotsman

Studio
£14 (£12 conc)

@kenchengcomedy
@nordenfarm

•   7 Feb from £12

The Talk Show is a comedy/theatre/spoken word show about talking by award-winning writer and performer Rob Auton.

Following on from his shows about hair, sleep, water, faces, the sky and the colour yellow, Rob now turns his attention to talking because he is ready to talk about talking.

Since 2012 Rob has chosen a specific theme for his shows and challenged himself to create an hour of material about each subject. These shows have given rise to sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe as Rob continues to build his audience through his unique use of words and humour.

After his appearances on the Russell Howard Hour, BBC at the Edinburgh Festival and Channel 4’s Random Acts, Rob now looks to talk to as many people as possible with The Talk Show.

The Talk Show was the second best reviewed comedy show at the Edinburgh Festival 2018.

WHY? ‘A genuine original. Poetical, philosophical, humane, completely charming and funny to boot’ The Guardian

‘Charming, eccentric and uplifting, Auton is a talent to watch’ The Independent

‘Funny, poetic, observant and wholly original. Auton’s brilliant use of language and perfect comic timing throws up laugh after laugh after laugh after laugh’ ★★★★★ Beyond the Joke

‘It's both touching and bizarre. A warm and frequently funny hour’
★★★★ The List

‘Inspiring and uplifting. Well worth seeing’ British Comedy Guide

‘A remarkably moving emotional journey. A thoroughly enjoyable, engaging and entertaining hour’ ★★★★★ Entertainment Focus

‘Thought-provoking, heart-warming and heart-breaking’ ★★★★★ Three Weeks

‘Auton cleverly controls the mood to a minute degree. It feels like a new kind of poetry’ ★★★★★ The Peg Review

‘He uses words like a potter uses their wheel’ ★★★★★ Marbles magazine

‘An experience not to be missed’ ★★★★★ The Student Rag

Studio
£12

@RobertAuton
@nordenfarm

•   8 Feb from £12