Top names are set for Crieff Comedy Festival

It will be laugh-a-minute this weekend as Crieff Comedy Festival returns.

The three-day comedy festival is set to take over the Perthshire town today (Friday, July 26), with some of the top names in Scottish comedy set to perform.

Some of the big names taking to the stage include Perth comedian Fred Macaulay, Phil Differ, Des Clarke and Janey Godley.

As well as stand-up shows, there are improv shows, comedy clubs, workshops and a burlesque dance show to entertain the crowds.

One of the highlights of the Saturday night at the festival will be Des McLean and Gary Little’s ‘The Glasgow Trip’.

The Glasgow Trip is an online comedy series based on ‘The Trip’ by Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan, who travel around Spain trying local food and eating at Michelin-starred restaurants.

Having been fans of the programme, the two Scottish comedians came up with their own version touring around food outlets in Glasgow - and has taken off as a stand up show, which will be performed at Crieff Comedy Festival on Saturday, July 27.

Speaking to the PA, Des McLean said: “The Glasgow Trip is actually based on the programme ‘The Trip’.

“I was a fan of it, so Gary and I started going round Glasgow, but instead of going to restaurants we would drive to snack bars for a roll and sausage.

“We go from driving around some of the rough areas of east Glasgow, and then we have to put our suits on because we are going to the West End - it is a completely different world.

“We put it up online and it became a massive series and was up for a Scottish Comedy Award, so we ended up doing it as a stand up show on it.

“We show an episode of ‘The Glasgow Trip’ at the start of the show and there is stand-up mixed in with it as well, and that is what we will be bringing to Crieff Comedy Festival.”

He continued: “I really enjoyed the festival last year, Crieff is a lovely wee place.

“The weather was brilliant so everyone was sitting out in the beer garden and I thought the place looked really nice, so I am looking forward to coming back this weekend.

“Gary has a decent following, so between the two of us we should be able to bring in an okay crowd.

“If anyone watches The Glasgow Trip, I would definitely encourage them to come along.”

The Glasgow Trip is on Saturday from 9pm at Strathearn Artspace and tickets cost £15, and the show can be watched online by searching “The Glasgow Trip” on Facebook.

The acts will be in Strathearn Artspace, The Tower, The Square, Crieff Town Hall and Crieff Golf Club.

Crieff Comedy Festival runs from Friday, July 26 until Sunday, July 28 and tickets can be bought online at www.beforethefringe.ticketline.co.uk