Stage is set for laughs; Comedian Russell Howard has announced a Newcastle date. Entertainment Editor GORDON BARR has the details

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), August 14, 2008

Byline: GORDON BARR

HE GRACES our TV screens in BBC 2's Mock The Week and now Russell Howard is set to grace a Tyneside stage.

The entertainer is embarking on a 60-date tour of the country, taking in Newcastle's Theatre Royal in November.

The if.comedy and Barry Award nominee will kick off his Dingledodies tour with five Edinburgh dates at the Assembly Rooms.

It will be his seventh successive appearance at the Festival Fringe and his fifth solo show in Edinburgh.

Russell, the recently-announced successor to Al Murray The Pub Landlord as host of Paramount Comedy's Edinburgh & Beyond, sold out last year's festival run in its entirety before his first performance, with seven dates in larger capacity venues being added due to demand.

He then set off on a national tour which was extended to 66 dates, selling 38,000 tickets in the process.

Still unfashionably fond of humanity, his tireless energy and joyful enthusiasm for his craft make him a stand-up favourite.

He is inviting audiences to go and have their cobwebs blown away in an "unashamedly exuberant whirlwind".

In addition to his near-constant touring, an extremely busy year has seen Russell appear on Live At The Apollo (BBC 1) alongside some of the biggest names in comedy, including Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Jimmy Carr and Joan Rivers.

He has also retained his place as a permanent team member on BBC 2's hit show Mock The Week and has returned as a guest on Would I Lie to You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks after impressive debuts.

On top of that, he's guested on Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive.

Russell has also had continued success with his Sunday morning BBC 6 Music show, due back in 2009, which went into the iTunes top 10 when released as a podcast.

Russell Howard is at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, on November 9.

CAPTION(S):

FUNNYMAN - Russell Howard is in demand with audiences across the country