TEESDALE’s Funny Way To Be Comedy Club has announced details of the new programme in Barnard Castle which runs from January to March.

It brings some of the funniest male and female comedians in the UK, including the big success story of the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Best Newcomer winner Alex Edelman, and comics from the US, Australia and Canada.

Organisers have also announced details of two bargain midweek shows featuring stand-up stars of tomorrow.

The season gets under way on Saturday, January 10, with a headline appearance from Lucy Beaumont, a comedian with a clutch of awards to her name.

She was a 2014 Foster’s Best Newcomer nominee, winner of the BBC New Comedy Award in 2012 and former Chortle Award winner for Best Newcomer.

In 2013, she appeared on series two of Live At The Electric on BBC Three and has recently been commissioned to produce her own show for BBC Radio 4, To Hull and Back.

Rising stars Katie Mulgrew and Hayley Ellis complete the bill in a night featuring three of the most exciting female comics in the UK today.

Next up is the 2014 Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer, American comedian Alex Edelman. The 25-year-old, from Boston, is regarded as one of the world's most promising upcoming comedians. He joins Australian sensation Felicity Ward, one-liner comedian Peter Brush and Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Jamila Maddix on Saturday, February 7.

On Saturday, February 28, alternative comedy hero Tony Law brings the cheerfully absurd brand of humour that endears him to live and TV audiences in the UK and abroad.

He has appeared on Have I Got News For You and is a regular on TV panel shows Never Mind The Buzzcocks and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

The final spring show sees festival favourites, Ray Peacock performing an abridged version of his critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show, Here Comes Trouble, and Leicester Comedy Festival Best Show winner Ahir Shah is not to be missed at The Witham on Saturday, March 28.

Tickets to bargain midweek shows cost £5 to see BBC New Comedy Award winner Steve Bugeja (January 21) with support from Reece Brennan and Chris Ramsey tour support Carl Hutchinson (March 11).