THREE years ago, Stourbridge comedian Frankie Peoples launched the Comedy Hut as as a once-a-month event in the upstairs room of the famous Mitre Pub in Lower High Street, Stourbridge.

Alun Cochrane was one of the first headliners in the early months and since then, both his career and the Comedy Hut brand have gone from strength to strength.

Cochrane regularly appears on television and radio with the likes of Frank Skinner and the Comedy Hut has expanded to take in Stourport and Birmingham, hosting top stars such as Lee Nelson, Brendon Burns and Chris Ramsey as well as a yearly comedy festival in Stourbridge.

Frankie has never forgotten the Hut's roots and neither has Cochrane, who came back to the venue where it all started for a sell out gig, which again was very well received.

The Scottish born Yorkshire man who now lives in Manchester use material based mainly on his experiences with having a young family and life on the road as a jobbing comedian.

He also raised the interesting point that whilst he is expected to make people laugh as part of the job description whilst in reality he is not a particularly bubbly or lively person.

But that added to his laid back appeal and Cochrane was as well received this time around as the first time, when there were considerably less people in the audience which shows how the Wednesday night shows have progressed.

Tickets are available for the Stourbridge Comedy Festival, to be held at three venues, including The Mitre, on July 9 to 12, with Ian Cognito, Joe Caulfield, Joel Dommett and Ellie Taylor headlining.

To book tickets or for more information, go www.thecomedyhut.com

Paul Jenkins