Montreal announces festival line-up

Lee Mack, Sean Meo and Jimmy Carr will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bill Cosby, Carl Reiner and Emo Philips at the Montreal comedy festival.

Organisers of the Just For Laughs event have unveiled the line-up for their 21st festival, which boasts a record 72 shows.

Other Brits attending include Ronnie Golden and Arthur Smith, who will be performing Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen - in tribute to the Montreal-born songwriter.

Smith will also be leading one of his alternative city tours, undeterred by any lack of local knowledge. A festival spokesman warned: "Anything can and will happen when people go out walking with the legendary raconteur." Last time he led such a tour around Edinburgh, in 2000, he was arrested.

Bizarrely, the quintessentially English Jimmy Carr is billed as appearing in Just For Laughs' O'Comics showcase for Irish talent, alongside Brendan Dempsey and Karl Spain.

Other international acts at the festival include Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Sean Cullen, Eric Bogosian, Kathy Griffin and mindreader Marc Salem.

Just For Laughs chief Bruce Hills said: "The festival's 21, but every year's a milestone.Our hope is that we keep on growing but we never grow up.

"We've added another dozen shows this year in our continued effort to reach a wider audience by reflecting and embracing Montreal's wonderful cultural diversity."

The festival takes place from July 10 to 20. More information is available at the official website.

Published: 21 May 2003