There are new established Fringe names joining us for full runs, including globe-trotting comedian Nick Wilty, New Yorker Lewis Schaffer and Sol Berstien, along with Free Festival favourites including Lynn Ruth Miller, Nik Coppin, Dan Willis, Richard Coughlan, Dean Scurry, Donald Mack, Tony Cowards, and Kevin McCarron.

Rob Deb returns with another year of his annual geek show, and there is also a geek charity fundraising show this year, that will hopefully follow in the steps of our "Dr. Who Charity night" that raised over £1,400 in 2007.

The Family Friendly ComedySportz returns for another year of Improv Comedy, and North West comedians show "The Great Big Comedy Picnic" returns to the Free Festival for the 5th Year.

Other returning shows include another set of Laughing Horse Comedy Clubs - always popular with audiences given the number of big-name acts that pop up at shows each year. "The Good, The Bad and the Cuddly" is also back for its 4th Free Festival year, with Sion James Saddling up with some new comedy pard'ners.

Shaggers, the late night comedy club about sex and sex stories returns after becoming the surprise late-night hit of last years Fringe, and also from sell-out shows at  the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Brighton Fringe and the Leicester Comedy Festival.

There's new solo shows from an array of quality comedians, including Scottish comedienne Keara Murphy, talented American Jessica Delfino,  Karl Edrik, Native American Chuquai Billy and many more - and an array of other comedy club featuring a huge selection of top names, and the best in new comedy.

There's also sketch comedy, magic, mentalism, party games, puppetry,  comedy-music, comedy-cabaret, topical comedy shows  and comedy-theatre with comedians from around the world including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Italy, Greece, Ireland and the UK.

What better reason to have a laugh at the Fringe this year with the Free Festival - with this huge and varied selection of shows that are funny, fabulous and also completely free?