Among the acts set to appear at the ten day event are Man Down, Cuckoo and Taskmaster star Greg Davies (9th-10th October, Symphony Hall), Doctor Who and Little Britain actor Matt Lucas (14th October, Town Hall), and Birmingham’s own rising comedy hero, Joe Lycett (10th October, The Glee; 11th October, Town Hall).

Lending an international flavour are German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn (13th-14th October, Town Hall), Comedy Central’s Impractical Jokers (12th October, Barclaycard Arena), and Australian short film festival Over The Fence (12th October, The Walkabout), which includes a screening of Not Sophie’s Choice starring Catherine Tate.

Meanwhile, fans of classic comedy can revel in Monty Python’s Spamalot! (3rd-7th October, New Alexandra Theatre), an afternoon of Laurel and Hardy films (14th October, mac Birmingham), a revival of 1960s BBC radio series Round The Horne (15th October, Victoria pub), and an expert recreation of Woody Allen’s early stage routines (11th October, The Glee).

Other highlights include cult Cold War-set comedy 5 Lesbians Eating Quiche (11th-15th October, The Old Joint Stock Theatre), top-rated podcasting authors Scummy Mummies (7th October, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall), The Infinite Monkey Cage’s Robin Ince (13th October, Comedy Junction) and Simon Day (15th October, The Glee), who last appeared in the festival way back in 2002 as part of The Fast Show cast.

The festival officially kicks off with the fourth Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award (6th October, The Glee), and boasts two Free Half-Dayers (8th and 15th October). Taking place at Cherry Reds and The Victoria, on John Bright Street in Birmingham city centre, the successive Sunday afternoons see more than 16 acts perform new shows, among them Josh Pugh, improv’ troupe Foghorn Unscripted, Comedy Carousel’s Andy Robinson, and Funniest Joke of the Fringe 2016 winner Masai Graham.