POPULAR comedians continue to beat a path to Teesdale to perform on stage at The Witham in Barnard Castle.

Peter Dixon, founder of the Funny Way To Be Comedy Club, said: “All four comedians in our autumn season are playing Barnard Castle for the first time, so we’re very excited. Their styles are varied, but all have one thing in common in that they are tremendous talents and greatly respected.”

The season kicks off on Wednesday, October 29, with Lee Nelson, of BBC 3’s Well Funny People, bringing his character-driven stand-up comedy in Work in Progress.

The following month sees Susan Calman embark on her first tour of the UK following rave reviews at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A regular on TV panel shows, including QI and Have I Got News For You?, her Lady Like tour arrives in Teesdale on Saturday, November 29.

Two rising stars make their Barnard Castle debuts on Saturday, December 13. Romesh Ranganathan, winner of the Leicester Mercury New Act Award in 2013 and star of Channel 4’s hit comedy show Stand Up for the Week, brings his latest show, Rom Wasn’t Built in a Day.

Suzi Ruffell, tour support for Alan Carr, Kevin Bridges and Josh Widdicombe, rounds off the autumn season the same night with her new show, Social Chameleon.

Tickets for Lee Nelson cost £17.50 and the show starts at 7.30pm; Susan Calman, £14 or £12 in advance, 8pm; Suzi Ruffell, £12 or £10 in advance, 8pm. Book online at funnywaytobe.

com or at The Witham in Horsemarket, 10am-4pm except Tuesdays or Sundays, or call 01833 631107 during opening hours. Other ticket outlets are The Old Well, on The Bank, Barnard Castle, noon until closing time every day, or via the Skiddle ticket hotline on 08448 842920.

Founded in 2010, Funny Way To Be is a hit with Teesdale audiences.

Previous acts include Russell Howard, Russell Kane, Jason Cook and Chris Ramsey, who had another sell-out appearance at the venue en route to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the region, Saltburn’s Big Mouth, a new Saturday night comedy season, will launch at the Spa Hotel on September 6 with Rob Rouse, Pete Johansson, Jack Campbell and special guest MC Pete Otway.

Carmel Ramsay, organiser, said: “We’re back after our summer hols and couldn’t have bagged a better line-up.”

Rob Rouse is known for appearances on TV shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats and Celebrity Juice. Pete Johansson has appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News and supported Reginald D Hunter on tour.

Jack Campbell is a hit on the comedy circuit and special guest MC Pete Otway is one of this year’s sharpest new comedians.

Tickets, £12.50, go on sale at the end of August from the Spa Hotel on 01287 622544, or online at bigmouthcomedy.co.uk Doors open at 7pm and shows start at 8pm.

Next Friday, Stockton’s Catch 22 Comedy Club has bagged Jason Cook, Raymond Mearns and crowd pleaser Jonny Awsum for a show at the Arc.

All three have been performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Tickets cost £10/£12 from the box office on 01642 525199 or arconline.co.uk