27 January 2012 Last updated at 08:26 ET

Leicester Comedy Festival returns for 19th year

BBC Radio Leicester is the official radio station for Leicester Comedy Festival

The longest running comedy festival in Europe returns for the 19th year to venues across Leicester and Leicestershire from 3 to 19 February.

Alistair McGowan, Sarah Millican and Josh Widdicombe will appear at the Leicester Comedy Festival which attracted about 60,000 last year.

Organisers said the event, which began in 1994, boosted the city's economy by £1.78m in 2011.

The festival hopes to deliver 410 shows across 35 city and county venues.

'Original and special'

Festival director Geoff Rowe said: "We've developed a tradition of producing original and special events which can't be seen anywhere else.

"The festival has become a crucial part of the UK's live comedy scene.

"As the longest running comedy festival in Europe, it's been a pleasure to work with some of the best stand up comedians over the past 19 years," he added.

Other comedians performing at this year's festival includes Shappi Khorsandi, Jarred Christmas, Mitch Benn, Greg Davies, Alex Horne, Josie Long and Andi Osho.

In 1994, the Leicestershire festival started with 40 shows, in 23 venues and attracted about 5,000 people.

Details of shows can be found on the Leicester Comedy Festival website.