Manchester comedy of the week FT Larry Dean, Paul Campbell and more mystery at XS

Last week we recommended XS Malarkey because of a mystery headliner and their impeccable taste (they also had Marcel Lucont and Josh Glanc on but that’s beside the point), and would you look at that they’re teasing us again this week!

We couldn’t possibly speculate on who might be the mystery headliner, but last week’s surprise turned out to be Laura Lexx so you know it’ll be a banger. And if you don’t like surprises then you can just watch the likes of Joz Norris, James Ellis, Jake Breeze, and of course MC Toby Hadoke and leave before the end. You’ll still be pretty stuffed full of laughs.

Lots of us have a soft spot for one supermarket or another (I’m an Aldi man myself), but Mancunian comic Paul Campbell has taken his love affair to the extreme in writing a show dedicated to the now defunct delicatessens and more of Somerfield. In The Lost Tapes of Somerfield Campbell delves into the ‘five stages of supermarket grief’ as he laments the loss of his favourite branch. An odd delight that’s set to be a cult classic. Get in on the ground floor.

Act fast if you want to see Larry Dean this Sunday at The Lowry as there are only a handful of tickets remaining, and what a way to end your week. Dean is a joy to watch live; smart, quick and with a level of physical comedy rarely seen amongst his contemporaries.

He’d seem like a throwback if he wasn’t so present, a real entertainer of a performer whose latest show touches on his relationship with his beloved granny. He touches on thoughts of identity and hero worship, but is keen to let you know that he is just a big dafty when it comes down to it. One of the best dafties around.