Preview: Get out of town Leicester comedy festival

BILLED as Britain's biggest stand-alone comedy event, the Leicester Comedy Festival gets underway from 6 February. Highlights include performances from David Baddiel, star of Fantasy Football League, poet John Hegley, plus Britain's hottest political comedian, Jeremy Hardy. The award-winning Milton Jones (left) also appears, as do stars from London's Comedy Store. As well as live performances, the festival also boasts more than 100 films, plays and exhibitions.

Venues around Leicester, from 6 to 15 February. Ticket hotline and festival info: 0891 100 702