Manchester comedy of the week FT Stu Goldsmith, John Tothill & Anna Thomas

If you have an interest in stand-up comedy, then you’ll no doubt be aware of The Comedian’s Comedian podcast, and by extension, its genial host Stu Goldsmith. Stu has been speaking to newcomers and old greats for years on his ComComPod and is finally looking like surpassing some of the latter after recent smashing performances on the likes of Live At The Apollo. Go see Stu in the flesh at XS Malarkey this Tuesday for an April Fool’s Day for the ages.

BBC New Comedy Award Winner Anna Thomas joins BBC New Comedy Award Winner Joe Kent-Walters and a host of other excellent local comedians as they put up their metaphorical dukes in the Title Fight arena that is GRUB’s snug ‘Dining Room’. Jack Nicholl’s night of comedians improvising entirely new shows based upon their opponent’s suggestion is becoming a comedy institution in the city and this one looks set to be an absolute slobberknocker.

John Tothill had the kind of Edinburgh Fringe most people dream of, and then one that nearly killed him. After claiming critical acclaim for his debut show Thank God This Lasts Forever (and eventually being named as one of The Guardian’s top ten comedy shows of the year), he was struck down with a life-threatening bout of appendicitis. After emergency surgery and being bed ridden with prescribed rest after the ordeal, Tothill managed to finish out his run before smashing through a sold-out run at the Soho Theatre, and now heads to Manchester on his debut tour. Let’s just hope nothing happens on the way here.