WE’RE only just into British Summer Time, but the folk at Huddersfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre are already thinking of autumn.

On sale soon will be tickets for Jason Manford’s show, due at the LBT on Friday, October 3.

The comedian is described by Johnny Vegas as “absolutely hilarious’’ and is a regular on Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Manford started his comedy career by winning the North-West Comedian of the Year title in 1999.

A year later he won the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year award and was a finalist in the So You Think You're Funny? new act competition.

He made his Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2005 with Urban Legend, a show that was nominated for the main Perrier Award.

The following year he won the Chortle Award for best breakthrough act.

His last visit to LBT was back in October, 2006, in the Comedy Cellar, which sold out and received great reviews.

Manford – often referred to as displaying a style and look reminiscent of Peter Kay – is one of Salford’s rising stars.

Meanwhile, on Saturday next week rubber-faced comedian Phil Cool is at the LBT.

Once a regular on TV, he appears to have been off the radar in recent years.

So where’s Phil been? Well, he’s still alive and well and living in deepest Lancashire.

He says he hasn’t been on television for so long because he’s no good at gardening or decorating, he can’t cook and doesn’t do DIY; which leaves him with nothing they want.

Which is a pity, as his live shows are great.

Impressions of PresidentŠBush, the “retired” TonyŠBlair and Winston Churchill’s scathing opinion of today’s “yoof”Š will all be there with stories from his own experience.

Starting the summer season off is award-winning stand-up and ventriloquist, Nina Conti with Complete and Utter Conti.

Touring the UK for the first time with her debut full-length show Nina (and Monkey) will play host to a cavalcade of outlandish double acts at the LBT on Sunday, May 4.

The show is a hotchpotch of stand-up, sketches and variety, all of which rely heavily on the use of ventriloquism, with Monkey as ringmaster putting Nina through her paces with a host of different puppets and a host of different puppeteers, all played by Nina.

Andy Parsons, from BBC2’s Mock the Week, follows hot on Nina’s heels on Wednesday, May 7.

His is political comedy without the leaflet, satire without the lecture, ridicule without the sanctimony and all brushed with a bit of showbiz glitter.

Andy’s credentials are second to none; he was a main writer on the original Spitting Image and has performed on numerous TV shows including Saturday Live, The Stand Up Show, The Comedy Store, They Think It’s All Over and The Live Floor Show.

Janice Connelly’s comedy creation Mrs Barbara Nice will star in Hiya and Higher at the LBT on Saturday, June 14.

Barbara, a Stockport housewife and mother-of-five, has given up the world of Tupperware and Poundstretcher to take on the unpredictable world of stand-up comedy.

As well as all these solo shows, LBT’s new-look Comedy Cellar will be going monthly.

The underground laughs will be seamless over the summer with dates set for May, June, July and August.

Anthony J Brown takes over the reins to ensure Huddersfield has the best acts the circuit has to offer.

Starting with Dave Spikey’s support act, but this time headlining, Steve Royle will be supported by Freaks Outing and compere Anthony J Brown himself.

June sees eloquent storytelling wit from Tom Price, as seen on MTV’s Senseless and BBC’s Torchwood, with support from Jim Smallman.

Heading into July and Jongleurs regular Andy White headlines with Dave Twentyman and Damion Larkin in support.

Finishing the summer season will be Debra-Jane Appelby, fast becoming one of the most popular comedians on the circuit, Elliot J Huntley and Anthony J Brown.