Last updated 11:39, Thursday, 22 May 2008

TWO major stars of the UK comedy scene are heading to Carlisle to make their first-ever appearances in the city.

Al Murray: Landing at the Sands on April 6

By Mark Green

Outrageous pub landlord Al Murray will be pouring himself a pint and providing his views on what makes Britain great in The Pub Landlord’s Beautiful British Tour next April.

The tour follows the critical and ratings success of the prime-time ITV1 shows Al Murray’s Happy Hour and a second Audience With, show.

This will be the Guv’s fourth national outing, with all three previous sell-out tours extended due to demand.

As well as the hit chat show series and the one-off Audience With shows, Murray has also published the Richard & Judy Book Club Award-winning The Pub Landlord’s Book of British Common Sense, which was a Sunday Times bestseller and the highest selling humour book by any comedian during 2007.

But before the Landlord appears, Lee Evans brings his manic, all-action show to town.

Both are starring at The Sands Centre as part of the venue’s ever-improving ‘Comedy Moments’ strand.

Big-name stars such as Dara O’Briain (May 29), Paul Merton (May 31), Jimmy Carr (Sep 30), Frankie Boyle (Oct 31), Ken Dodd (Oct 18) and Jim Davidson (Oct 12) are already slated to appear this year, now Evans has been added following months of negotiations by The Sands arts, entertainments and events manager Jonathan Higgins.

Evans is appearing in arenas across the country, including Wembley and the O2 arena and getting him to Carlisle is a real coup for The Sands.

Delighted Jonathan said: “I have been talking to the promoters of his tour for seven months on a weekly basis,trying to tie him down.

“He is a megastar, bigger than a Saturday night prime time star.

“We have a successful classical music brand at The Sands and we decided to celebrate the quality of the comedians we are able to book by launching the ‘Comedy Moments’ title. Lee is the cherry on top of the cake for us.”

Tickets for the show on 27 July 27 cost £28.50 and went on sale this week.

The sweat-soaked, high-energy delivery and unassuming charm of Evans have made him one of the best-loved live performers in the country.

Jonathan said: “I think they are a fair price for Lee Evans, you would pay a lot more to see him in a big arena and you are getting to see him in an intimate venue like The Sands.”

The multi-talented comedian was nominated for an Olivier award for his performance as Leo Bloom in the hit West End musical The Producers and he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters such as There’s Something About Mary, The Fifth Element and the brilliant, award-winning British film, Funny Bones.

Lee Evans appears on July 27. Tickets priced £28.50 are available from The Sands Centre Box Office on 01228 625222, 24 hour ticket line 08448 472276 or online at www.thesandscentre.co.uk.

Al Murray appears at The Sands on April 6 next year, tickets priced £25.00.