THE first act to appear at a North-East comedy club will return for a night of fun and laughter to mark its fourth birthday.

Jason Cook will headline Barnard Castle’s Funny Way To Be Comedy Club’s celebrations on Tuesday, July 1.

Club founder Peter Dixon said the star, who is best known for his appearance in the BBC show Hebburn, had proved top be a popular guest.

“He’s been a firm favourite with our audiences each time he’s played and we’ve watched his career go from strength to strength,” he said.

The Jason Cook performance, which features fellow funnyman Justin Moorhouse, is part of a star-studded Funny Way To Be summer season.

It kicks off on Wednesday, June 11, at the Jersey Farm Hotel, with Kai Humphries and former Edinburgh Comedy Award best newcomer nominee Imran Yusuf.

The club switches to its regular venue, The Witham, on Saturday, June 21, when Middlesbrough’s stand-up magician Pete Firman will headline, with support from Steve Shanyaski.

After the fourth anniversary show, Mock The Week’s Jo Caulfield will return to The Witham on Saturday, July 19, following her sell-out, one-woman show in 2012.

The final show of the summer takes place on Saturday, July 26, and features Lucy Beaumont, 2012 winner of the BBC New Comedy Award, and Patrick Monahan, who has spent the last two years developing his theatre touring shows after winning ITV’s Show Me The Funny.

Mr Dixon said: “They arrive in Barnard Castle just before they debut brand new shows at the Edinburgh Fringe but you can see them first at Funny Way To Be.”

He added: “We are thrilled to be presenting such a top line up of acts. It’s quite a change from our small beginnings in 2010.”

For ticket details, go to funnywaytobe.com