Manchester comedy of the week FT Lou Wall, Josie Long and So You Think You’re Funny

We got a taste of things to come last week with Heidi Regan being the first of a slew of excellent previews at XS Malarkey over the next two months. This Tuesday, they begin in earnest with a cracking double from Jonny Pelham and Lou Wall. Throughout June and July, there’ll be appearances from the biggest names in comedy, including Mike Wozniak, Jess Fostekew, Jordan Brookes and more as they gear up for a month at the Fringe in August.

Another Edinburgh preview that serves as a precursor to more of the same, as Josie Long kicks off a further three days of comedy shows at Fairfield Social Club for A Lovely Weekend. Long’s show is an epic tome that focuses on motherhood and humanity in the face of extinction and the various extinct charismatic gigantic megafauna that came before us. A vibrant voice making us laugh into the void, Josie Long is one of the best comedians in the country and sometimes manages to make joyous comedy out of the bleakest circumstances.

Speaking of stacked lineups, there’s a heck of a bill at Title Fight this Wednesday as the likes of Molly McGuinness, Alfie Carter, Paul Campbell and Helen Brooks duke it out for the honour of wearing the Title Fight belt. No two shows are ever the same with Title Fight as comedians and performers are teamed up to choose the title of their opponent’s brand new show with special appearances from hilariously grotesque sketch duo Nose between rounds as ‘rings girls’.