IT is no laughing matter. The Hyena Lounge Comedy Club will play host to shows in York for the last time at the 2018 Great Yorkshire Fringe.

"We're making a welcome return to the GYF with four laughter-packed shows on the two Friday and Saturday nights, featuring the cream of the UK’s comedy circuit in the White Rose Rotunda spiegeltent, " says promoter Toby Clouston Jones. "However, they're tinged with sadness as these will be the last Hyena Lounge gigs in York before we concentrate on our monthly shows at Harrogate Theatre from here on."

This Friday and Saturday's line-up of Gary Delaney, Tanyalee Davis and Danny McLoughlin will be followed on July 27 and 28 by Justin Moorhouse, Rob Rouse and Scott Bennett. Doors will open at 9pm each night for a 9.15pm start.

"Headlining the first weekend of shows will be regular Mock The Week panellist Gary Delaney, the premier gag-smith of his generation and, through Twitter, the most followed and quoted comedian in the country," says Toby.

""Supporting Gary will be Tanyalee Davis, fresh from a six-month residency in Las Vegas. At just over a metre tall, Canadian-born Tanyalee is the Ferrari of comedy: low to the ground and kind of racy!"

Danny McLoughlin will be the compere. "His sharp material and quick wit have firmly established him as one of the country’s best MCs," says Toby. "He often performs at Britain's biggest comedy clubs, is the regular MC for the coveted Edinburgh Comedy Awards Galas and has supported Sean Lock, Mickey Flanagan and Sarah Millican on tour."

En route to his Northern Joker run at next month's Edinburgh Fringe, Manchester comic Justin Moorhouse will take time out from his present tour to top the Hyena Lounge bill for the second weekend. "Having shot to fame as one of the stars of Phoenix Nights alongside Peter Kay, Justin has gone on to to be a regular face on TV on shows such as Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Still Open All Hours," says Toby.

"Supporting Justin will be Rob Rouse, from Ben Elton’s Upstart Crow, who's a legend on the comedy circuit in his own right. His puppy-dog enthusiasm is highly infectious and he's appeared on such TV shows as 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Friday Night Project and Grownups."

Scott Bennett will host the July 27 and 28 shows after supporting Rob Brydon, Michaeal Mcintyre and Jason Manford on their tours.

As well as the adult-orientated evening shows, Toby will present a special family-friendly Hyena Lounge Kids Comedy Club this Saturday from 2pm in The Turn Pot on Parliament Street. "We'll have three acts from the comedy circuit, performing material that's suitable for age six and upward," he says.

"Full of jokes targeted at children but funny enough to get everyone laughing, this show has all the feel of a real comedy club, but without the rude bits or swearing. It's cracking fun and a great way to entertain the whole family"

Tickets cost £15 for the evening gigs, £10 for the children's show, on 01904 500600 or at greatyorkshirefringe.com.

Charles Hutchinson