COMEDIANS from popular TV shows will be heading to Darlington throughout July as part of a successful annual festival.

The month-long 2018 Darlington Comedy Festival will host comics from shows such as Mock the Week, including Chris Ramsey and Gary Delaney.

Now in it’s seventh year, the festival will be hosted across several venues including the Darlington Hippodrome, The Forum , Old English Gentleman and the Hole in the Wall throughout July.

Hilarity Bites, which runs comedy events in the North East and Yorkshire is behind the popular festival, which has previously brought the likes of Russell Kane, Sarah Millican and Tim Vine to local audiences.

As well as the big stars, the festival has the cream of the crop of the UK comedy circuit including Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Noel James and Lauren Pattison, who was nominated for the ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Best selling author and blogger Sam Avery also makes an appearance with his show about being a ‘Learner Parent’ to twins.

Festival Organiser Neil Jollie said: “Every year we seem to outdo ourselves with the quality of the acts performing at the Darlington Comedy Festival, and this year is no different.

“We’re really excited to partner with Darlington Hippodrome to host our biggest-ever festival show with the brilliant Chris Ramsey, who was a stand-out act at the first festival back in 2011.

“Hopefully audiences will take a gamble on seeing the next big star at some of these shows, as well as being able to see several acts that have appeared on TV screens in the past twelve months.”

The festival starts on July 7 at The Forum, on Borough Road, Darlington, with a trio of top notch comedians including Russell Hicks and Paul Piri.

Freddy Quinne, who won the Hilarity Bites’ New Act Competition in 2013, will host.

It is hoped that the festival will encourage audiences to go and see new up-and-coming acts on the comedy circuit, as well as attracting visitors to town centre venues.

Hilarity Bites started out in 2007 bringing big comedy names to the area and also provides services for corporate clients including after dinner speakers.

Tickets are on sale now, for all shows. To view the full line-up, and to look at all dates, times, and venues, as well as information about the individual comedians, visit hilaritybites.co.uk/shows/