Manchester Comedy Festival returns for 11th year.

Brendon Burns is one of the highlights at this year's MCF.

The Manchester Comedy Festival returns for its eleventh year between 17th – 31stOctober 2011 – and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Launched by The Comedy Store owner Don Ward in 2000, the Manchester Comedy Festival 2011 programme sees stellar names such as Peter Kay, Andy Parsons, Rob Brydon, Stephen Merchant, Paddy McGuinness joined by cult favourites Brendon Burns, Richard Herring, Tommy Tiernan and Jimeoin.

This years’ line-up also reflects the growing desire for new and innovative forms of comedy, with everything from ghost walks to mind readers and sketch-offs to burlesque – plus the first Cofilmic Comedy Short Film Festival.

Events will also be put on at more venues than last years’ record of 34, including The Comedy Store, the Frog & Bucket Comedy Club – where Giggle Beats will be reviewing Tony Law and the Beat The Frog World Series Final 2011 – the Lass O’Gowrie and the Manchester Apollo.

Emilie Jones, Manchester Comedy Festival coordinator, said: “We had a record year in 2010 with more shows than ever, more venues on board and more people coming to the shows, as well as a record return for the city in terms of value brought to Manchester. This year we hope to go even further and have brought together our best programme yet, and we hope the people of Manchester will enjoy the diverse mix on offer!”

Last year the Manchester Comedy Festival programme included more than 200 shows across 34 venues, with over 45,000 people attending the festival.