London

Comedy
GOOD BETS
Brendon Burns
The fiery, always exciting London-based Aussie with his new show 'So I Suppose This Is Offbsive Now'.
Pleasance Dome, Aug 1-26

Rhona Cameron
One of several celebrated performers (see Frank Skinner and Sean Hughes below) returning to stand-up after a long absence. Can they still work the magic?
Gilded Balloon Teviot, Aug 2-26

Sarah Kendall
A great stand-up talent with what could be some absorbing new material in 'My Very First Kidnapping'.
Assembly at George Street, Aug 2-26
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Daniel Kitson
It might be stand-up. Might be storytelling. Could be something completely different. Who knows what this unpredictable former Perrier Award winner will do next?
The Stand, Aug 5-26

Josie Long
Scatty. Daft. Original. Warm-hearted. All-embracing. Who could fail to love and admire her? If.comedy Best Newcomer Long is back, this time with 'Trying Is Good'.
Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 1-26

Mark Watson
Book early for this highly imaginative comedian whose shows at the last two Edinburgh Fringes were complete sell-outs. His main show is entitled 'Can I Briefly Talk To You About the Point of Life?' Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 1-27. He's also performing a '24 Hour Jamboree To Save the World' from 11.30pm on Aug 13 (participants meet outside the Festival Fringe Office and then set off into the unknown).

Andy Zaltzman
Very funny political comedian with more information (and more jokes) in a one-hour show than any audience has a right to expect. This one's called 'Andy Zaltzman, 32, Administers His Emergency Dose of Afternoon Utopia, Steps Back, and Waits to See What Happens'.
The Stand, Aug 2-27

BIG NAMES
You all know who they are. It's worth noting that, in true Fringe spirit, some will be toiling at the Edinburgh workface for weeks on end, while others whip into town on a brief visit.

Jimmy Carr: 'Repeat Offender'
Smooth and sardonic, like the taste of a particularly bitter coffee.
Venue 150 at EICC, The Exchange, Aug 16-19 & 23-26

Ricky Gervais: 'Fame!'
The ticket price is £37.50. Just imagine how much the touts will ask for.
Edinburgh Castle, Aug 26

Rich Hall
Former Perrier Award winner and gruff voice of reason in an increasingly mad world.
Assembly at George Street, Aug 3-26

Sean Hughes
Grand to see this strikingly talented performer back doing live stand-up.
Gilded Balloon Teviot, Aug 18-26

Stewart Lee
Super-intelligent, calm but incisive humour from the '41st Best Stand-Up Ever!'. That's where Lee was placed in a Channel 4 survey earlier this year. So that's what he's called the show.
E4 UdderBELLY, Aug 2-26

Phil Nichol
The new show by last year's If.comedy Award winner.
The Stand, Aug 3-26

Frank Skinner
Back to live stand-up after the best part of a decade away from it.
Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 13-26

NOVELTY VALUE
Amsterdam Underground Comedy Collective
'Look forward to edgy comedy with a slight accent', the publicity proclaims. It's happening downstairs at the Tron, one of the few Fringe venues with the feel of a comedy.
Assembly at the Edinburgh Comedy Room, Aug 2-26

Arthur Smith - Arturart
'Art is PR is Art is Arturart'. That's the clarion call from comedy veteran Arthur Smith that launches a free art exhibition/installation/extravaganza with films made by and featuring fellow comics (anything submitted will be included) and, of course, objets d'art. 'Conceptual is good,' declares curator and self-styled siginificant artist Smith, as he invites contribututions. 'Why not shit on a painting-by-numbers canvas? Or frame an old bra?'
Institute of Zoo Logic, Aug 4-26

Niblock vs Gig-a-Tron
Comedian and computer scientist Owen Niblock does songs and whimsy while the world's first voice-activated artificially intelligent computerised comedian does the jokes.
The Ivanhoe (as part of PBH's Free Fringe), Aug 5-27

Phone Book Live!
Stage D'Or invites a different actor, comedian or celebrity each day to deliver an original and entertaining reading of the telephone directory. Green Room, Aug 2-26

Shitty Deal Puppet Theatre Company's Complete History of Oppressed People Everywhere
Axis of Evil Productions brings you 70 hand puppets, 15 Barbies and four actors as 'Sesame Street' meets 'South Park' in a sketch show about man's inhumanity to man.
The Vault, Aug 6-27

BEST ADVICE
Any 'Best Of . . .' show (as in Best of Irish Comedy, Best of Scottish Comedy, Best of the Fest 2007) won't be.