Rabble Rouser
	It is a given that in any classroom, you will find at least one character who considers themselves the class joker'.

	Toff at the top - Miles Jupp debuts at Comedy Carnival
	A versatile chap is Miles Jupp. Best known for his onstage persona as an upper-crust snob - an act which has earned him a Perrier nomination in 2003 for best newcomer - he also spent last Edinburgh juggling two brilliant shows: his stand-up act and his play Johnson and Boswell Late and Live (Jupp plays Boswell, Simon Munnery is Johnson).

	King of the Sinhas
	Doctor, Doctor' jokes have probably been a staple of comedy since it was invented but there are few stand-ups for whom they would hold any relevance.

	King's boys fly high as Tom Basden hits Baftas
	Remember that one person in your school year who was always going to be famous? In the Year of 99 at King's College School, Wimbledon, it's become a question of which one?

Jeffries tops weekend of comedy

Another talented bunch of stand-ups descend on Wandsworth this weekend, you lucky, lucky people. Best of the bunch is the Comedy Carnival at the Clapham Grand and the Comedy Tree at Putney Walkabout, which share Jim Jeffries and Patrick Monahan (don't forget that a good stand-up will do two or three gigs a night at weekends.) Aussie Jeffries is a best headliner nominee in the 2008 Chortle awards and has had sold-out runs at the Eduinburgh and Montreal Festivals. While he isn't exactly going to "do a Lenny Bruce" and get thrown in jail for his opinions, Jeffries is one of the more controversial comics on the circuit, his 2006 The Second Coming show going down like a cup of sick with Christian Voice. And in Manchester a few years back one audience chap took exception to a put down, walked onstage and punched Jeffries in the face.

	Bob Mills is back...
	Bit of a cult hero is Bob Mills. From his post-pub, pre-TV Burp show In Bed With Medinner, which trawled through TV's more bizarre archives, to his current regular slots on Radio 5's sporting panel show Fighting Talk, his laconic London drawl has earned him many fans but not mainstream success. Much like his beloved Leyton Orient.

	Epsom gives Nichol hero's welcome
	Phil Nichol, a whirligig of energy and bombast, a former if.comedy award - the Oscar of comedy accolades - and a self-confessed "Tasmanian devil with a guitar", is coming to Epsom Playhouse. That's yet another of the biggest names in comedy, following on from Michael McIntyre, to come to Epsom this month.

	BAC comedy festival continues
	Battersea Arts Centre's N20 Comedy Festival has already seen Robin Ince host a night of interestingness and funny learning, and Alex Horne regale his brilliant tales of trying to beat his bird-mad father in a birdwatching contest.

	Starling work
	I hope Stephen Fry is paying attention. It seems that Fry has made knowledge (slightly) fashionable again, through his presenting of the knowledge orgy that is his BBC show QI.

	Barry Cryer comes to Epsom
	The names of Barry Cryer's shows tell you everything you need to know about his approach to growing older. His last run was titled the First Farewell Tour, and now comes Still Alive, which comes to Epsom Playhouse on the 13th.

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