THE first acts for York’s 10-day comedy festival have been announced with a television regular included in the line-up.

Next summer the city is playing host to the Great Yorkshire Fringe, scheduled to take place two weeks before the famous Edinburgh Fringe, in the hope of offering a warm-up event for acts.

The first of what organisers promise to be a host of big-name comedy signings was announced today as tickets went on sale and the event's official website was launched.

Henning Wehn, who will be performing his show Eins, Zwei, DIY, is the self-proclaimed German Comedy Ambassador to the UK, and is known from regular television appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats and QI.

He will be performing in the White Rose Rotunda - one of four purpose-built venues which will be popping up in York from July 24 to August 2 next year.

Parliament Street will become a performance space, supported by bar and food areas, with the White Rose Rotunda, the Barm Pot, the Turn Pot and the Tea Pot seating audiences from 60 to 400 people.

The programme also features Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show, which will be running in the Tea Pot direct from a West End run in the Museum of Comedy.

For more details visit http://www.greatyorkshirefringe.com.