First Edinburgh line-ups unveiled

Bill Bailey, Mel and Sue and John Shuttleworth will all be performing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

They will all be appearing at The Pleasance, though the exact details of their shows have yet to be announced.

Nicholas Parsons will again be hosting his daily chat show, and will also perform as WS Gilbert in a tribute to "a great Victorian".

Although the official Fringe programme is kept under wraps until its official launch on June 5, The Pleasance has unveiled its line-up on its website.

Paul Tonkinson, Greg Proops, Owen O'Neill and Jimmy Carr also have shows on the schedule.

At other venues, the Assembly Rooms is planning a live version of the classic Henry Fonda film Twelve Angry Men, starring a line-up of comedians.

Dave Gorman will be explaining his latest globetrotting escapades in Googlewack Adventure at the George Square Theatre

And legendary US stand-up Richard Belzer, best known for his serious roles in Homicide and Law and Order, is scheduled to perform three dates at the Crown Plaza hotel, ahead of a screening of the stand-up film he produced, Bitter Jester.

Another welcome addition to the Fringe programme is the 83-year-old Spiegeltent, the stylish venue that was notably absent from last year's event. This year it will be set up in the George Square Gardens, behind the Gilded Balloon's Teviot base.

The Gilded Balloon itself, destroyed by a blaze over the New Year, is also operating its Caves rooms, and at The Venue nightclub on Calton Road.

Other acts previously announced as playing the Fringe include Rhona Cameron, performing a one-off gig at the Festival Theatre on August 18, and Jo Brand in a stand-up show and a play she co-wrote, Mental.

Published: 20 May 2003