Preview listings unveiled

Chortle now has listings of more than 370 comedy shows heading for the Edinburgh Fringe.

The tally has been boosted with all the Laughing Horse Free Festival programme, as well as several other shows

The official programme is out next Wednesday, but our preview listing reveals some of the highlights. They include:

• The stand-up show Simon Amstell quit never Mind The Buzzcocks to concentrate on.

• A one-man show from porn star Ben Dover.

• The first biographical play about Eric Morecambe, coming 25 years after his death.

• The UK debut of American stand-up Greg Behrendt, a Sex And The City writer whose best-selling book He’s Just Not That Into You inspired the hit film of the same name.

• Mark Watson’s last ever 24-hour show

• American stand-up – and star of West Wing and The Larry Sanders Show – Janeane Garofolo

Another 200-plus shows are expected to be added this weekend when the Laughing Horse’s open-to-all Free Festival reveals its full line-up.

As previously announced, Frank Skinner will be bringing his Credit Crunch Cabaret to the Assembly Rooms, while Al Murray will be reviving his four Perrier-nominated shows from the Nineties.

Other star names already announced include Ricky Gervais, Julian Clary, Alistair McGowan and Jimmy Carr.

Last year, Chortle listed 735 Edinburgh Fringe shows classed as comedy, or deemed of interest to comedy fans.

Click here to browse this year's listings.

Published: 7 Jun 2009