The first Liverpool Comedy Festival was in July 2002 and was established to celebrate the city's comic heritage and pedigree. Each year we mix big names with unknowns so there is a chance to see the very best in comedy first.

Here are some of the folk that you could have seen in the past. Don't worry, we've got more great shows lined up for the future.

2002
Big Names Des O'Connor, Johnny Vegas
Unknowns John Bishop, Sean Lock, Andy Parsons

2003
Big names Peter Kay, Ross Noble
Unknowns Dara O'Briain, Jimmy Carr

2004
Big Names Dave Spikey, Jackie Mason, Daniel Kitson
Unknowns Flight Of The Conchords, Reginald D Hunter

2005
Big Names Paul Merton, Dylan Moran
Unknowns Russell Howard, Jason Manford, Alan Carr

2006
Big Names Jimmy Carr, Barry Cryer
Unknowns Justin Moorhouse, Rhod Gilbert, Mark Watson

2007
Big Names Stewart Lee, Tom O'Connor
Unknowns Stewart Francis, Tim Minchin

2008
Big Names Frankie Boyle, Simon Amstell
Unknowns Sarah Millican, Milton Jones

2009
Big Names Rob Brydon, Al Murray
Unknowns Pete Firman, Robin Ince

2010
Big Names John Bishop, Jimmy Carr
Unknowns Sam Avery, Patrick Monahan

2011
Big Names Dylan Moran, Greg Davis, Tim Minchin
Unknowns Chris Ramsey, Russell Kane