TV's finest laughter-makers are heading for the region over the next 12 months

PROBABLY the best ever year for comedy is shaping up on Teesside with Dylan Moran and Alan Davies announcing gigs recently, while Jimmy Carr, Dara O Briain and Alan Carr have all added extra dates because of the demand for tickets.

They join a string of big hitters including Kevin Bridges, Katherine Ryan, Andy Parsons and Dave Gorman plus local hero Patrick Monahan set for a keenly-anticipated homecoming appearance at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

And the monthly Catch 22, Big Mouth and Hot Potato comedy clubs continue to offer a mix of familiar TV faces and some of the best new talent throughout the year.

More gigs are set to be announced over the next few months but, in the meantime, here’s a quick glance at just some of the highlights coming up this year:

• Tomorrow: Catch 22 Comedy Club, ARC, Stockton. Danny McLoughlin, former Corrie star John Warburton, Chris Kent and Carl Jones. 8pm. £11/£13. Box Office: 01642 525199. arconline.co.uk

• Sat, Feb 21: Hot Potato Comedy Club, Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre. Charlie Baker and Paul Pirie, with Jason Cook as special guest MC. 8pm. £6 early bird / £9 if you leave it late. 01429 890000. hartlepooltownhalltheatre.com

• Thurs, Mar 5: Andy Parsons. Live and Unleashed – But Naturally Cautious. ARC, Stockton. The Mock the Week kingpin arrives with a new show. 8pm. £15. Last remaining tickets on sale.

• Sat, Mar 28 and Sun, Aug 9: Jimmy Carr. Funny Business. Middlesbrough Town Hall. The 8 Out of 10 Cats host’s Boro date last November sold out morethan five months in advance, and these two extra dates are selling fast too. 8pm. £25. 01642-729729. middlesbroughtownhallonline.co.uk

• Tues, Apr 14 and Weds, Apr 15: Dara O Briain. Crowd Tickler. Middlesbrough Town Hall. An extra date was added by public demand for the Mock The Week's star's new show. 8pm. £23. Tickets selling fast.

• Sun, Apr 19; Weds, Jul 29 and Thurs, Jul 30: Alan Carr. Yap, Yap, Yap! Middlesbrough Town Hall. The first two dates sold so quickly that a July 29 has just been added by the promoters. 8pm. £30.

• Fri, Apr 24: Dylan Moran. Off The Hook. Middlesbrough Town Hall. The star of Black Books and Shaun of the Dead brings a new show to Teesside. 8pm. £25/£23 concs.

• Sat, May 16: Katherine Ryan. Glam Role Model. Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt. The fresh but dangerously fierce Canadian is fast becoming one of the most recognisable faces on British TV. 8pm. £14.50/£12.50 concs.

• Sat, June 13: Patrick Monahan. Adventures in Monahan Land. Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt. One of Teesside’s favourite sons plays a homecoming gig. 8pm. £14/£12 concs.

• Thurs, Jul 16: Kevin Bridges. A Whole Different Story. Middlesbrough Town Hall. New show from the hugely-popular Scottish stand-up has now SOLD OUT, with only late returns available. 8pm. £25.

• Fri, Oct 30: Alan Davies. Little Victories. The star of Jonathan Creek and QI brings his new show to the North-East. 8pm. £25/£20 concs.

• Sat, Nov 21: Dave Gorman Gets Straight to the Point* (*The Powerpoint). Middlesbrough Town Hall. The innovative comedy mind behind TV's Modern Life is Goodish, Are You Dave Gorman? and Googlewhack Adventure is back with a new live show. 8pm. £24.