There's something funny HAppening in NottingHAm

The Nottingham Comedy Festival returns to the city on Friday. In today's guest blog Elliott Bower, who has helped to organise the event, writes about some of the acts you can see this year.  Everyone likes to laugh. Statistics show that little kids laugh 400 times a day. But one study showed that grownups laugh only eleven and another said only four. Well we would like to change this stat in Nottingham for one week only. From Friday 19th September to Saturday 27th September the Nottingham Comedy Festival rolls back into town for its sixth year and it is better than ever. We have over 60 shows in 18 venues across Nottingham and Mansfield from completely free to £20.50. There really is something for everyone this year including festival regulars such as Patrick Monahan, Alfie Moore and top names you will have heard of such as Live at the Apollo's Paul Chowdry, Mock the weeks Gary Delaney and X Factor's Matt Richardson. We are even going nostalgic if you can remember early '90s CITV kids' show Knightmare. Well we have that too - how will this happen? Well, it's a theatrical version aimed at grown ups like you and me with the dungeoneer played by a member of the public and it could even be you. I have had the privilege of volunteering (and more recently working) for the comedy festival for a number of years and its director Helen Stead is always looking for more volunteers for helping us out for a good cause, we have had much success over the last few years attracting the likes of Rhod Gilbert, Jason Manford, Armstrong and Miller and Alan Davies to our beautiful city. Speaking of good causes this year we are raising funds and awareness for two local charities: Disability Direct and Disability Nottinghamshire. We are putting on a show called Stand up for Disability in which top disabled acts such as Steve Day, Lee Ridley (Lost voice guy) will be performing at the Capital FM Arena's Bolero Suite and proving to the world that a disability does not stop you from taking on the world. As for local talent we have top Nottingham comic Scott Bennett perform his new show About a Roy at Bartons, Edinburgh 4-star rated Nottingham improv troupe MissImp performing at the Glee Club, the annual Castle Rock's brand new to comedy competition in which up and coming acts compete for special prizes and EY up comedy where Nottingham acts perform in a NCF special night. More info can be found on our website, via Twitter @nottscomedyfest and the phone app which can be found on all smart phones. We really hope to see you there. Come on Nottingham, let's show the kids we can laugh 400 times as much as them! You can buy tickets for the Nottingham Comedy Festival directly from our website and in person at the Nottingham Tourism Centre on Smithy Row.