Comedy ✽✽ The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See

Thu 10 for line-up. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). See Sat 4.

Sunday 12

Glasgow ✽✽ Kevin Bridges & Friends The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844

335 8879. 5pm. £10. See Sun 5. FREE Fresh Meat The Butterfly and the Pig, 153 Bath Street, 221 7711. 8.30pm. See Sun 5. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). A night of comedy with Stu & Gary and Graham Mackie.

Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 5. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). With Susan Morrison and Graeme Thomas.

Monday 13

Glasgow ✽✽ Frankie Boyle: Work in Progress The Stand, 333

Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 6pm. £10. See Mon 6.

Edinburgh Comedy Variety Show City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. 8pm. £3 (£2; £1 if booked in advance through lastminute.com). See Mon 6. The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2. See Mon 6. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. New material night.

Tuesday 14

Glasgow FREE Pop-Up Comedy The Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 353 6450. 8.30pm. See Tue 7. Red Raw The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. Weekly beginner’s showcase. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2. See Mon 6. The Broken Windows Policy The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). The Stand’s monthly sketch show returns with new skits and character treats.

Wednesday 15

Glasgow ✽✽ Frankie Boyle: Work in Progress The Stand, 333

Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 6pm. £10. See Mon 6. FREE Gong Show Vespbar, 14 Drury Street, 07909 822841. 8.30pm. See Wed 8. Midweek Comedy Cabaret The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Four comedians, including former Scottish Comedian of the Year, Sean Grant, and current holder of that crown, Jamie Dalgleish.

Edinburgh Beatnik Comedy The Tron, 9 Hunter Square, High Street, 226 0931. 8.30pm. £3 (students £2). See Wed 8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5. See Wed 8.

Thursday 16

Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Cheer up 64 THE LIST 2 Feb–1 Mar 2012

your midweek with Michael Smiley, Teddy, Wade McElwain and Rod Hunter. Host is Susan Calman. Comedy Academy The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 9.30pm. £3. See Thu 2.

Edinburgh Fascinating Aida: The Cheap Flights Tour The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 8pm. £19. The feisty trio get their satirical cabaret on. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Dangerous barbs from Ian Cognito, with Chris Lynam, Ed Patrick, Ray Bradshaw and host Susan Morrison.

Friday 17 Glasgow Peter Powers Pavilion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. 7.30pm. £11–£14 (family £24). See Fri 3. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 16 for line-up.

MY COMEDY HERO KEARA PATRICIA MURPHY City Café, Edinburgh, Mon 6, 13, 20, 27 Feb

I first heard Billy Connolly on a record of my dad’s when I was seven. He was talking about welly boots and the Barras and telling funny stories about Jesus being born in the Gallowgate and not Galilee. He created a magical world outside my window that I couldn’t wait to explore. He was also making fun of Glasgow accents: ‘A guy in a phonebox calls the operator who asks, “Is there money in?” He responds, “No, ah’m in here masel”!’ But this was a music album. He was singing parodies of Scottish folk songs: ‘Nine-and a Half Guitars’ and ‘The Short Haired Police Cadet’. But there were sad songs too. There was one about a soldier in a hospital bed, ‘Oh, Sergeant is this the adventure ye meant when ah put ma name doon oan the line? All yer talk o’ computers an’ sunshine and skis, ah am askin’ ye sergeant, where’s mine?’ So, so sad.

My brother, Conor, and I listened repeatedly to that album and recited it incessantly till we wee’d ourselves. The first time I saw him in the flesh I was 16 and my father had taken me to see an opera. Connolly was playing the jailer in Die Fledermaus. He never spoke, but we laughed and laughed just at his face. I saw him a few years later in a small hall in Wick. He spoke non-stop for two hours and 50 minutes and I cried the entire time. He is my absolute hero. He destroyed me. No one else comes close. (Interview by Brian Donaldson)

Edinburgh Friday Night Live The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 8pm. £8. See Fri 3. The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £5. See Fri 3. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. With Brendan Riley, Ro Campbell, Dave Longley and Geoff Boyz. Foster’s Comedy Live Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10–£13. There’s Stu Who?, Tanyalee Davis and Joe Heenan tonight. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 16 for line-up. The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893. 10.30pm. £5.50 (students £5). See Fri 3.

Saturday 18

Glasgow Peter Powers Pavilion Theatre, 121 Renfield Street, 332 1846. 7.30pm & midnight. £11–£14. See Sat 4. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8pm. £15. See Thu 16 for line-up. Edinburgh Saturday Night Live The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 8pm. £10. See Sat 4. The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £7. See Fri 3. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 17. Foster’s Comedy Live Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10–£13. See Fri 17. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Thu 16 for line-up. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). See Sat 4.

Sunday 19

Glasgow ✽✽ Kevin Bridges & Friends The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844

335 8879. 5pm. £10. See Sun 5. FREE Fresh Meat The Butterfly and the Pig, 153 Bath Street, 221 7711. 8.30pm. See Sun 5. Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). With Alan Sharp.

Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. See Sun 5.

✽✽ Jay and Silent Bob Get Old Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13–29

Nicolson Street, 529 6000. 7.30pm. £30–£35. Film icons Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes take their weekly podcast on a UK tour. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). Surreal clowning around from Chris Lynam, also Lucy Oldham and host Stu Murphy.

Monday 20

Glasgow ✽✽ Frankie Boyle: Work in Progress The Stand, 333

Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 6pm. £10. See Mon 6. Improv Wars The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Improv experts Garry Dobson, Stu Murphy and Billy Kirkwood.

Edinburgh Comedy Variety Show City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. 8pm. £3 (£2; £1 if booked in advance through lastminute.com). See Mon 6.