It’s nearly time for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to take over the theatres, gyms, hotels, streets and pubs of Scotland’s Capital.
Taking place from August 2-26 (although there are previews in the days running up to the official launch), there are over 3,500 shows taking place, from music and dance, to theatre and spoken word.
The largest - and most high-profile - section of the programme is comedy, with the festival having the reputation of finding the television and film stars of the future.
Everybody from Steve Coogan to Richard Gadd had their big break at the Festival Fringe and there will be plenty of soon-to-be big names playing tiny venues this year.
Here are 13 shows that we reckon could be amongst the comedy highlights of 2024.
9. Olga Koch
Russian comic Olga Koch has become a real festival favourite since bringing her debut hour, Fight, to the Fringe in 2018. Since then her shows have taken in everything from computer programming and parasocial relationships, to gap years and the practicalities of organising a threesome. This year 'Olga Koch is From Money' seems set to take on late stage capitalism by way of predictably filthy jokes. She's playing the Monkey Barrel from July 30-August 25. | Contributed
10. Chris Grace
Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson was one of the word-of-mouth hits of last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with the comedian performing in character as the Hollywood superstar (who also plays Chris Grace, who plays Scarlett Johannson) to poke fun at 'whitewashing' casting practices. If you missed it then he's bringing it back for five shows only at Assembly George Square Studios from August 8-12. Those who have seen it will be keen to catch his new show, 'Sardines: A Comedy About Death', at the same venue from July 31-August 26. It' apparently about "the tragic, hilarious and important questions of our time: Can we enjoy life if we know how it ends? Does making art actually help? And if Rihanna's song is called Don't Stop the Music, why does the music...stop?" | Contributed
11. Elf Lyons
Never one to stick to the one subject, Elf Lyons has turned her comic eye and immaculate clowning abilities to the likes of economics, opera and horror in the past. This year, in 'Horses', she's offering nothing less than the "first ever comedy show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe performed entirely by a horse". The horse is called Treacle and will be onstage at the Pleasance Courtyard from July 31-August 26. | Contributed
12. Simon Munnery
The word 'genius' is overused in comedy, but is simply a factual statement when it comes to Simon Munnery. Many of his generation of comics now steer clear of Edinburgh in August, but it just wouldn't be the same without him, so it's good to welcome him back for the umpteenth time since he made his 1992 debut alongside Steve Coogan, Patrick Marber, Stewart Lee and Richard Herring. It's billed as a new hour but here's hoping there's still room for a few old favourites (a new supermarket chant perhaps?) at The Stand from August 1-26. | Contributed