Now in its 31st year, the Banana Cabaret is ready and raring to get the acts on stage and into intimate settings for the Balham Comedy Festival.

Day one of the festival will include a star of Michael McIntyre's Roadshow followed by the best of Banana, with Harry Hill taking the helm.

Shappi Khorsani returns to the festival after taking a few years off to have a baby, and introduces audiences to friends, family and total strangers who have helped her in the past.

With heavy punchlines and a way of handling every subject with razor-sharp wit, the New Statesman describes her as "seriously funny and surprisingly filthy".

Next on is the winning combination of Harry Hill, Pippa Evans, Imran Yusuf, Ben Norris and John Moloney. With a mix of award winning comedians and Fringe Fest booked performers, the festival will be off to an excellent start.

  • Balham Comedy Festival; The Bedford, Bedford Hill, Balham; Friday, July 10; 7.30pm and 9pm; £15 and £17; balhamcomedyfestival.com