You could never accuse Richard

Herring of resting on his laurels.

Next month, having barely finished

his 25th Edinburgh run with

acclaimed new show Hitler

Moustache, the inveterate blogger

and tweeter embarks on a weekly

series of shows full of his own

regularly updated topical sketch

and stand-up material at the

Leicester Square Theatre.

Before that, though, he presents

this run of monthly shows that will

drip-feed the denizens of west

London some top-notch comedy

names, including the best of this

year’s Edinburgh Festival. First

up this weekend is Al Murray,

arguably still the best character act

on the circuit and always a sure-

fire bet for some well-crafted belly

laughs. Joining him is Alistair

McGowan (pictured), who

these days is spending as

much time working on

more personal

observational stand-up

as he is on impressions.

Further dates offer some

tasty treats: the brilliantly

eccentric Tim Key

was the toast of

this year’s

festival, winning

the Edinburgh

Comedy Award

for his

silly spoof

performance

poetry, and

Best Newcomer nominee Jack

Whitehall, who railed against

the system in a decidedly

middle-class manner in his

assured debut. Plus there’ll

be Ricky Gervais’s partner in

crime Stephen Merchant, who

routinely offers up unmissable

stand-up. It’s not an edgy

selection but it is

classy: with Herring

as your comedy

personal shopper,

you’re in safe hands.

Sharon Lougher

Sun, Lyric

Hammersmith, 8pm,

£10 to £15. Tel: 0871 221

1722. www.lyric.co.uk

Tube: Hammersmith