The most popular comedy shows in London

Adam Kay – musical comedian and half of the Amateur Transplants – wrote a hugely successful book about the NHS and being a junior doctor. His live version of the show was due to run in the West End earlier this year, but got derailed for ‘obvious reasons’. However, it has the distinction of being the piece that will formally reopen Theatreland to audience, with its three week socially distanced run serving as a trial for a wider reopening of the Apollo Theatre.

Viral-sensation and star of his own Channel 4 chat show, Mo Gilligan's on his biggest tour to date. It's been a whirlwind few years for the London-born comic – his feelgood observations have gained a huge following.

The acerbic stand-up returns to live duties in the social-distancing era with a run of ten work-in-progress shows at the ever-busy Bridge Theatre.

'Mock the Week' star Rhys James skillfully manipulates words and phrases, either playing up his intelligence or masking it behind goofy one-liners in which he doesn't realise he's the butt of the joke. He's a whip-smart dickhead.

The 'Strictly' star, podcaster and Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated stand-up is back on the road. 

Tim Vine – the punmeister general – does a show dedicated to Elvis in which he performs covers of The King's songs.

Slick, sharp, very funny stand-up Simon Evans – who's appeared on 'Live at the Apollo' and hosts Radio 4's 'Goes to Market' – brings his dry-as-a-bone wit to the Leicester Square Theatre. 

High-octane Irish comic Jason Byrne is back on the road with more semi-improvised, sweatily energetic stand-up. His latest tour promises to "drag" audience members onto the stage.

British-Kurdish stand-up Kae Kurd is climbing the comedy ranks fast. After appearing on 'Live at the Apollo' and podcast 'Quotas Full', he's on tour with a brand new show. 

15 acts compete in this heat of the 2013 Laughing Horse New Act of the Year competition, plus MC Lewis Bryan.