Australian national treasures Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson are going on a nationwide tour for the first time in 28 years.

Dame Edna Everage has been one of the most idolised and admired women in show business for many a year. Famed for her catchphrases such as "Hello Possums" and "Call Me Old Fashioned", Dame Edna soon became TV's most-loved housewife. Still in 2009 she holds this regard amongst the world's public, and has become the face of leading make-up brand M.A.C. Cosmetics. From sell-out world tours to hit TV shows, there is no denying Dame Edna is a natural born star! Sharing the bill with the glamorous Dame Edna Everage is Australia's Number One Cultural Supremo Sir Les Patterson. Sir Les is a politician by trade and has had many important and influential roles for his native country. These have included Chairman of the Australian Cheese Board, Minister of The Yarts (arts) and Minister for Sport with special responsibility to keep sports rampantly heterosexual and "blokey".
Sir Les will once again be performing Peter and The Shark, a parody on Prokofiev's Peter And The Wolf. This time in a different guise, Peter is a bronzed surfer played on a piccolo trumpet, his friend is now a laughing kookaburra played on a soprano saxophone, and the duck has become a duck-billed platypus whose pleasant theme is played on the bassoon!

Rob Brydon's credits read like a compendium of modern British comedy. Marion & Geoff, Human Remains, I'm Alan Partridge, Black Books, The Keith Barret Show, A Cock and Bull Story, Little Britain, Director's Commentary, Have I Got News For You, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, Q.I. and most recently his highly acclaimed performance as Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey. Now this multi award winning writer / performer comes to Manchester Palace Theatre with an evening of brand new stand up comedy.

The multi-award winning comedian and star of '8 Out of 10 Cats', 'Live at the Apollo', and 'XFM' embarks on his first live national tour with this exciting and hilarious show, that will have audiences begging for more.

Star of the fastest selling debut stand-up DVD of all time! Michael McIntyre the comedy sensation of 2008, sets out on his first ever UK arena tour. Having taken the comedy world by storm last year with sell-out shows around the country, including an impressive five nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo, Michael returns to the road with a brand new show. His hugely successful debut DVD 'Michael McIntyre Live & Laughing' has now sold over 600,000 copies and has been at the top of the comedy charts for over three months. Michael's brilliantly engaging delivery and effortless rapport with the audience has led to him being hailed, by audiences and critics alike, as the best new stand-up to emerge for years. In 2008 Michael delivered storming sets on both 'We Are Not Amused' (Prince Charles's 60th birthday celebrations on ITV 1) and the 'Royal Variety Performance' (BBC 1) plus a stand-out performance as host on the first episode of 'Live At The Apollo' in November. He was also recently nominated for 'Best Live Stand-Up' at the British Comedy Awards 2008 and 'Best Comedy/Comedian' at the South Bank Show Awards in January 2009.

Jimmy Carr is not just a TV star. He's won awards, released chart-topping DVDs, and written a best-selling book and broken box office records by performing to over 500,000 people in the last three years. He may be the hardest working man in comedy. But perhaps he wouldn't have to be if he had a little bit more talent. This show is exactly the same as last year's except every single word. It's rude, crude and offensive but those aren't the only reasons you'll enjoy it.

Once a humble publican, the multi award-winning Al Murray - The Pub Landlord has risen to the honourable position of British comedy royalty, following the continuing success of his hit prime time ITV 1 show Happy Hour and a second Audience with Al Murray The Pub Landlord (ITV 1). The Guv'nor will be travelling to the four corners of our green and pleasant land to raise a glass with you, the beautiful British public, on his Beautiful British Tour. The Landlord will be merrily musing over a heady brew of topics, as he attempts to put the Great back into Great Britain.The shaming finger of shame will be pointed at you, if you miss what promises to be the must see stand-up comedy event of 2009. Al is one of the most recognisable and successful comics in the UK with his alter-ego, The Pub Landlord. His British Comedy Award-winning ITV1 series Al Murray's Happy Hour has delighted both viewers and critics alike with his no nonsense treatment of his celebrity guests. He is also one of the few stand-up comedians to be asked by ITV to perform two 'An Audience With's...'. Al's sitcom Time Gentlemen Please (Sky One) has become something of a modern day cult classic and his new series, Al Murray's Multiple Personality Disorder (ITV1) sees him introduce a whole host of new characters and demonstrate his vast comedic range.

Years since his last live tour, Eddie Izzard is taking a break from his Hollywood filming schedule to tackle the ambitious topic of all human civilisation and the existence of God. Stripped - a reference to the fact that he has hung up the dresses for this tour to appear in 'blokey mode', with only the merest smidgen of eyeliner has already played 34 cities in the US before transferring for this limited West End run.

In the last year, as well as starring in his first Hollywood feature film – Ghost Town, performing multiple nights to sell out audiences at The Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and The Madison Square Gardens in New York, creating the most downloaded audiobook series in the world, stealing the show at The Emmy's and The Golden Globes, writing, producing, directing and starring in his second feature film – This Side Of The Truth, appearing in Sesame Street, recording an HBO special of his live show ‘Out Of England’ being asked to host the Oscars and releasing another book in the award winning, million selling Flanimal series which is now being made into a Hollywood movie, Ricky Gervais has written a brand new live show called Science. He hopes it will get the record for the fastest selling stand up show of all time. (And guess who currently holds that record).

The double British Comedy Award winner, Bafta Nominee and co-writer and star of ‘Phoenix Nights’ returns with a brand new live show. Back on the road he’ll be tackling the old adage ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’. It was his dad’s favourite saying; which explains why when Dave was six he nearly died with diphtheria. Scientific evidence endorses these wise words and it’s proven that laughter boosts the immune system, reduces stress and blood pressure, and here’s the clincher… burns calories! So this new show is Dave’s small contribution to improving the health of the nation. Come along, have a laugh and hopefully you’ll go away in much better health and you could burn off 200 calories – and that’s a pint of lager!