City launches third comedy fest

The full line-up of this year’s Glasgow Comedy Festival has been unveiled today, with Joan Rivers, Jack Dee, Paul Merton and Jimmy Carr among the line-up.

The event boasts more than 200 shows over 17 days, with 50,000 tickets available.

This is only the third year of the event, but it is now Britain’s second largest comedy festival after the decade-old Leicester event.

As well as the top names in UK comedy, the event also showcases such local talent as  Fred MacAulay, Arnold Brown, Karen Dunbar,  Janey Godley and Jerry Sadowitz.

While the emphasis is on stand-up, there are also theatre shows such as the touring production of Round The Horne… Revisted, and cinema events, including the screening of vintage Bill Hicks concerts.

Organiser Tommy Sheppard said:  'It was always our intention to create a regular event that grows in size and stature every year. 

“The 2004 festival saw such a huge growth in the number of venues, shows and tickets on offer that it was always going to be difficult to top that achievement.  Nevertheless, we've succeeded.”

Alex Mosson, from Glasgow City Council, said: “International events like this bring major economic benefits to the city by boosting visitor numbers and rubber-stamping our reputation as a vibrant cosmopolitan city.”

And John Gemmell, from sponsor Miller said: “After two highly successful events we are confident that 2005 will be the best comedy year yet.  Glasgow has built an international reputation as a city with a sense of humour.”

Published: 23 Jan 2005