Who's who of top comedians on way to Shropshire

The biggest names in comedy will lead an all-star bill at theatres across Shropshire during an action-packed autumn programme.

Stadium favourites such as Ross Noble will line up alongside TV stars Julian Clary and cutting-edge gag-tellers like Tim Vine and Shropshire's very own Greg Davies.

There will also be sets from TV panel show favourites Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Watson, Tony Law, Alun Cochrane and Chris Ramsey at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn, Telford's Oakengates Theatre @ The Place and Ludlow Assembly Rooms.

• Scroll down to watch videos of the top names in action

Jenna Blair, from Ludlow Assembly Rooms, said comedy was enormously popular at venues in Shropshire and arts centre bosses were looking forward to the showcase of talent.

She said: "We're looking forward to welcoming Marcus Brigstocke – the calibre of comedy at venues across the region is very special indeed."

Craig Reeves, from Theatre Severn, added: "The sheer number and sheer quality of the comedians who will be lining up in autumn is unprecedented. It's a very exciting time. Wem's comedy star Greg Davies is one of our big name acts. We've already sold out one show by Greg so have had to add a second – but that's almost sold out too."

Kellie Thompson, from Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, in Telford, added: "Our advice to fans of comedy is simple: get your tickets now. A lot of these shows are going to sell out – some already have.

"We're enormously excited, for instance, to be welcoming people such as Ross Noble. He'd normally be filling much, much bigger venues but will be playing a one-off here as a warm up for his forthcoming tour.

"It's a real coup to get him."

Theatre Severn's comedy programme will start on September 11 with a performance dubbed Severn Jesters, featuring a line-up of the best up-and-coming comics.

The line-up will feature rock'n'roll poet and funnyman Paul B Edwards alongside Danny McLoughlin and Gavin Webster.

Theatre Severn will welcome Chortle Awards Best Show 2012 winner Tim Key on October 18, Aussie comic Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson on October 30, TV favourite Mark Watson on November 11 and Never Mind The Buzzcocks star Chris Ramsey on November 14.

Greg Davies

http://youtu.be/DVHSG-lXFcg

Who: Greg 'Pride of Shropshire' Davies

What: An all new show called The Back of My Mum's Head.

Where: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury. November 25 gig has sold out, there are tickets available for November 24.

Best joke: What do you call cheese that doesn't belong to you? Nacho cheese.

Best clip: Greg makes a mockery of the Shropshire Star

Julian Clary

http://youtu.be/RvvU6hPdH-E

Who: Julian 'Big in the 90s' Clary

What: A tour called Position Vacant, Apply Within, during which the star talks about the perils of finding love.

Where: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, on October 10.

Best joke: I didn't think of myself as a tart, but I wouldn't argue with anyone who did.

Best clip: Julian thrills on the Jack Dee show.

Mark Watson

http://youtu.be/1pLcOeblf1I

Who: Mark 'Any C4 Panel Show' Watson

What: A tour based on becoming an identity theft victim.

Where: Theatre Severn, in Shrewsbury, on November 11.

Best joke: Someone asked me recently – what would I rather give up, food or sex. Neither! I'm not falling for that one again, wife.

Best clip: Mark on Michael McIntyre's comedy roadshow

Marcus Brigstocke

http://youtu.be/wY8vFoVtSms

Who: Marcus 'Spamalot' Brigstocke

What: Will bring The Brig Society to Shropshire for two dates. He promises the chance to WIN a free hospital.

Where: Ludlow Assembly Rooms on October 12 and Oakengates Theatre @ The Place on November 28

Best joke: If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.

Best clip: Marcus dances to Kung Fu Fighting for Comic Relief

Tim Vine

http://youtu.be/VPaZfeAYUyk

Who: The legendary Tim Vine

What: The Tim Vine Chat Show, which enjoyed a total sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011/12.

Where: Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, in Telford, on October 1.

Best joke: Take your pick. Exit signs? They're on the way out! – or – Black Beauty? Now there's a dark horse! – or Conjunctivitis.com – that's a site for sore eyes.

Best clip: Quickfire Tim Live At The Apollo

Ross Noble

http://youtu.be/jtVG0BxsJpk

Who: Ross 'Have I Got News For You' Noble

What: Anl intimate warm-up for his 2012 Mindblender tour.

Where: Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, in Telford, on September 20.

Best joke: (On the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in London.) They could have just had a massive pile of burning tyres and more people would have turned up. Especially if they put S Club 7 on the top of it.

Best clip: Ross talks about his love of muffins

Full details of the shows are available from each venue.