JOSIE Long sounds just the sort of comedian that we all need. Someone who can weave funny stories from a thread spun from sheer optimism.

Decide for yourself next week when Josie, who looks like a bright, shiny schoolgirl, takes up residence in the Cellar space at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

Ross Noble described her as a “born comic. My face hurt from laughing”.

Certainly she’s won much respect among fellow comedians for a style of humour which owes much to quirky, ridiculous stories told with an innocence and madness which people find irresistible.

Josie is currently on her second national tour and has been on an award-winning streak since the late Nineties when she picked up the BBC New Comedy Award.

Since then she’s added the Best Breakthrough Act in last year’s Chortle.Co.UK Awards, plus the If.Comedies Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Festival.

Trying Is Good just about sums up what she’s trying to say in a show which is about liking people, looking at strangers and imagining their lives, about trying to give people the benefit of doubt and about respecting people who choose to do ridiculous things.

Josie has recently appeared on both TV and radio. She has been part of Robin Ince’s Book Club Tour, a guest on Out to Lunch (Radio 2), Big Brother’s Big Mouth (E4) and has performed in 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (Radio 4). One of her next appearances will be in Channel 4’s hit-programme Skins, for which she has also been writing.

Her show on Thursday, February 28, at the LBT is at 8pm. Tickets from the box office on 01484 430528.