TAUNTON Comedy Festival will start its laughter nights at Brazz in Taunton in a bid to leave people in stitches this winter.

MC Geoff Whiting, who also hosted the popular festival at Taunton School last year, will take to the stage with a stellar line-up of four comedians on Thursday, January 23.

Iszi Lawrence combines intelligence and wit with silly jokes, while TJ Shoesmith is a comedian and magician.

Bruce Cochrane confesses to being a “short, bald, rude, lazy, selfish, drunken scoundrel with a face like a dropped pie”, while James Redmond is a dry, slick and subtle stand-up who delivers unexpected twists and turns.

Tickets cost £15 (buy three, get one free) for standing room only in the bar area, or £39 (buy four, get one free) for a two-course set dinner and half a bottle of wine.

Dinner starts at 7.30pm with the comedians on stage at 9pm.