Spotlight on . . .

EXPECT there to be a special buzz at Edinburgh’s all-year-round comedy club next week, when American cable and satellite television channel Comedy Central takes over the York Place basement to record a series of shows featuring some of the biggest names on the comedy circuit.

From Monday to Friday, there will be two shows an evening. Headlining on Monday will be Andy Zaltzman, Stephen Carlin and Josie Long (pictured below).

Tuesday brings Boothby Graffoe, Robin Inch, Isy Suttie and Phil Nichol to the stage.

On Wednesday it’s the turn of Paul Foot, Eleanor Tiernan, Henning Wehn and Sam Simmons.

Thursday sees Andre Vincent, Sarah Kendall and Glenn Wool continue the mirth-making, while on Friday Paul Sinha, Bridget Christie, Tony Law, Maeve Higgins and David O’Doherty will be vying for the laughs.

Owner of The Stand Comedy Club Tommy Sheppard is over-the-moon to be welcoming the TV crew.

“We’re delighted to host Comedy Central next week,” he beams. “There seems no more appropriate venue in all the world to film a TV series on alternative comedy. That’s where we came from and for 17 years we’ve been flying the flag for an alternative to the bland mainstream comedy which now dominates our telly screens.”

Comedy Central, The Stand, York Place, Monday-Friday, 6.45pm and 9.45pm, £10, www.thestand.co.uk

DANCE

MIDNIGHT TANGO

STRICTLY Come Dancing stars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace won rave reviews when their Olivier-nominated show Midnight Tango opened on London’s West End.

Critical acclaim also followed when they toured last year. This week there is another chance to catch the show which has already taken almost £10 million at the box office.

Cacace says, “We are thrilled to be performing Midnight Tango in front of such amazing audiences. It’s a dream come true and we are both overwhelmed with how the show has been received.”

Set in a late-night bar in down-town Buenos Aires, the show brings to life all the drama, sensuality and elegance of the tango as the audience is taken on a journey into the heart of the intoxicating city.

Expect danger and excitement, joy and jealousy, pain and passion in what is a spectacular and explosive evening, featuring some of the finest tango dancers in the world.

Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, until Saturday, 7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm), £14.50-£35.50, www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh