Tommy Tiernan, Al Murray, Jimmy Carr and Daniel Kitson are all lined up to appear at the Birmingham Comedy Festival.

The programme for the event, which last year sold more than 40,000 tickets, has been unveiled today.

It officially takes place from Friday October 3 to Sunday October 12, although events start a day early, and the range of comics on offer spans from Alexei Sayle to Jim Davidson and Barry Cryer to the Men In Coats.

Festival organiser Dave Freak said: "Last year 43,761 people watched it, which made it the biggest dedicated comedy festival in the UK.

"The response was incredible, from the public, the city and arts community, and 2003 promises to be equally fantastic."

Roger Borrell, editor of the Evening Mail which sponsors the festival, added: "It's going to bring Birmingham a lot of laughs - something that's always welcome."

The programme includes:

Thursday October 2

Alexandra Theatre: Jim Davidson
Glee Club: Andre Vincent Is Unwell

Friday October 3

Alexandra Theatre: Jim Davidson
Glee Club: Jason John Whitehead, Andy Zaltzman, John Fothergill, Simon B. Cotter
Jongleurs: Sean Percival, Michael McIntyre, Pierre Hollins, Mark Hurst

Saturday 4 October

Alexandra Theatre: Al Murray: The Pub Landlord
Glee Club: Jason John Whitehead, Andy Zaltzman, John Fothergill, Simon B. Cotter
Jongleurs: Sean Percival, Michael McIntyre, Pierre Hollins, Mark Hurst

Sunday October 5

Glee Club: The Andy Robinson Rhythm Method
Sore Jaw Comedy Club, Solihull: Mitch Benn
Flapper & Firkin: Sideshow Society Sketch Show

Monday October 6

Flapper & Firkin: Sideshow Society Sketch Show
MAC: Bread and Circuses II sketch show
UGC: Evening Mail/ UGC Poll Winners Comedy Classic film

Tuesday October 7

Birmingham Hippodrome: Stomp
Cheeky Monkey Comedy Club: Alan Parker: Urban Warrior
Flapper & Firkin: Sideshow Society Sketch Show
Jongleurs: Comedy Workshop
MAC: An Audience with Mrs Barbara Nice
Patrick Kavanagh, Moseley: Dr Comedy's Side Split Surgery
Performa Comedy Big Top: Dr Phil Hammond and Jo Caulfield

Wednesday October 8

Birmingham Hippodrome: Stomp
Castle Vale artSite: Comedy Night with Mrs Barbara Nice
Flapper & Firkin: Sideshow Society Sketch Show
Glee Club: Jimmy Carr
Performa Comedy Big Top: Tommy Tiernan and Alan Carr

Thursday October 9

Birmingham Hippodrome: Stomp
Comedy Junction, Sutton Coldfield: Donna McPhail
Comedy Kav, Moseley: Silky, Hils Barker, James Cook
Glee Club: Alexei Sayle
Glee Club: Paul B. Edwards, Sean Percival, Tom Stade, Jim Jefferies
That's The Badger!, Selly Oak: Ian Stone, Rudi Lickwood, Simon Lipscomb
Performa Comedy Big Top: Men In Coats

Friday October 10

Birmingham Hippodrome: Stomp
Glee Club: Open Mic Finals
Glee Club: Paul B. Edwards, Sean Percival, Tom Stade, Jim Jefferies
Patrick Centre: Funjabis: Lovin A Sorna Gora
Performa Comedy Big Top: Milton Jones, Shazia Mirza, Patrick Monahan

Saturday October 11

Birmingham Hippodrome: Stomp
Patrick Centre: Funjabis: Lovin A Sorna Gora
Glee Club: Paul B. Edwards, Sean Percival, Tom Stade, Jim Jefferies
Performa Comedy Big Top: Daniel Kitson, Danny Bhoy

Sunday October 12

Glee Club: Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden Unplugged
MAC: Laurel & Hardy Day