The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 119

Comedy Comedy choice The Edinburgh Festival Fringe trundles on throughout the week, with the winner of this year's Perrier Award announced at midnight tonight. Yet back in the Big Smoke, it's funny business as usual, especially at Up The Creek. Tonight, Loe Hurst tops the bill at Malcolm Hardee's lively comedy club. TV exposure on BBC's They Think It's All Over and ITV's Saturday Live have transformed him from circuit favourite to nationwide celebrity, but Hurst was a first-rate stand-up before he became a telly star. Two years ago, I saw him open for Lee Evans in the West End, and although Evans stormed it, as usual, Hurst ripped the place apart.

I can't remember the last time I saw a support act go down so well. Hardee himself returns from Edinburgh to Sarfeast London's laughter mecca tomorrow, and he's back there again on Thursday, in a benefit for Hither Green Hospital, alongside Paul Morion, no less. In 1987, Morton took his own solo show to the Edinburgh Festival, but (literally) brokea leg in a park kick-about with some fellow comedians. "I wouldn't mind if I'd been tackled," he says, in John Connor's book, Comics A Decade Of Comedy At The Assembly Rooms, published by Papermac in 1990, "but I tripped over my trousers." Morton returned to Edinburgh a year later, with a performance aptly entitled Paul Merton's Break A Leg Show. Also at Up The Creek this week is Dermot Carmody (Sat, Sun), the son of a car salesman turned Church of Ireland vicar.

I first saw Carmody in a show called Young, Gifted And Green at the 1994 Edinburgh Festival, alongside fellow Irishman Kevin Gildea, and Ardal O'Hanlon, who's now most familiar as Father Dougal in Channel 4's hit sitcom, Father Ted. With Gildea and O'Hanlon, Carmody started the Comedy Cellar, Ireland's first alternative comedy club, at the International Bar in Du bli n. Slug 5 Lettuce. Putney High St, SWI 5 (0171 -602 61 80) 8.30pm, 43. Up The Creek Otis Cannelloni, Barry Murphy and Dermot Carmody.

Up The Creek, Creek Road, SEI 0 Monday 26 Ian Rowland's Psychic Show David Copper! leld meets The Files. Hen Chickens. St Paul's Road. Nl (0171-704 2001) 8pm, phone lor prices. Tuesday 27 Comedy Store: Cutting Edge Boolhby Grate, Sean Meo.

Sieve GrTbbin, Martin Coyote, Paul Tnorne. Comedy Store, Oxendon Street, SWI (01 426-91 4433) 8pm, 9. Wednesday 28 Comedy Store Players Andy Smart. Jim Sweeney, Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson. Neil Mullarkey.

Comedy Store, Oxendon Street, SWI (01426-914433) 8pm, 9. Thursday 29 Comedy Store: Best In Stand-Up Andy Robinson. Helen Auslm, Paul Zenon, Alistair McGowan. Comedy Store. Oxendon SI, SW1 WILLIAM COOK The Stand Comedy Dave Williams.

Geiry Grant, Eleanor Milne, Gordon Brunlon. Tut 'n' Shive. Upper Street, N1 (01 71 -359 7719) 8 45pm, 2, Take The Mike Comedy Club Ian Keable. Kevin Koplstein, Dave Dave and Jasmine Bultcs Saturday 24 Banana Cabaret Sean Meo, Andy Smart. Roger Monkhouse, Dave Smith.

The Bedloicl, Bedford Hill. SWI2 (01B1-673175G) 9pm. 64 Bound Gagged Tufnell Park Ronnie Golden MCs Paul Thome Steve Best, Simon Clayton and Wara. Tulnell Park Tavern, Tulnel! Park Rd, N7 (01 71 -483 3456) 9. 1 5pm, 6.

cones 5, m'ship1. Ctilswlck Comedy Club Phil Davy. Jo Enright. Harvey O'Leary, plus short spols. Rowan's Cale Bar, Siilehall Parade.

ClnswickHigh Road, W4 (0181 742 Comedy Brawhouse Adam Crow, Toby Finch, Andy Laud. Richard Tootill, Clyde West. Camden Head. Camden Walk, Nl (0171-359 08519pm, 43. Comedy Store: Best In Stand-Up Tim Clark, Sieve Gribbin, Rudy Lickwood.

Simon Fox, Martin Davis. Comedy Store. Oxendon SI. SW1 101 426-91 4433) 8pm 1 10. Comics On A Saturday Night Sally Holloway MCs lor Elizabeth Charbonneau, plus Addy Boige and Mary Bourke in Die shorter spots, Fulmar Firkin, Parker Street, WC2 (01 71 -405 0590) 8.30pm, Iree.

Hampstsad Clinic Steve Gribben, Mark Kelly, Lis Keen and MC Kevin Koptslein. GE Aldwinkles, crnr Fleet RdPond SI, NW3 (01 71 -4852112) Jongleurs Battersea Tracy Bros, Michael Smiley, Sieve Rawlings, Ricky Grover Jim Tavare. Jongleurs, Lavender Gardens, SW1 1 (01 71 924 2766) 7.15pm 11. 15pm, 10, cones 7. Jonglours Camden John Mann, Jim Tavare, Keith Fields, Dave Spikey, plus special guest.

Jongleurs Camden, CtialkFarmRd, NW? (0171-024 2766) 11 15pm, 10. cones 7. Meccano Club Martin Soan, Otis Cannelloni, Robin luce. Reg Nice MCs, Ardella Jones in the open spot FinnegansWake. Essex Road.

N1 101 71-8134478) 9pm, Newsrevue The week's news wilti a bit ol song and dance thrown in. Canal Cate Theatre. Budge House Pub. Delamere Terrace, W2 (0 1 71 289 6054) 1 0pm 5. cents 4, plus m'shipEt.

Up The Creek Keitli Fields MCs Dermot Carmody, George Egg and Lee Hurst. Up The Creek. Creek Road, SE 1 0 (0181-858 Sunday 25 Comedy Store Players With Paul Merlon, Jim Sweeney, Richard Vranch, Neil Mullarkey, Lee Simpson and Josie Lawrence Comedy Store. Oxciulon Street. SWI (01426-914433) 8prn.

10 Newsrevue See Saturday. Canal Cale Theatre. 9pm. 5, cones 4, plus m'shipEI. Calch the funny side ol Jo Enright at the Chlswlck Comedy Club tonight J-U I THE GUIDE 47 AUG 24-301996.