A brand-new six part series, BBC Presents: Stand Up For Live Comedy , will be filming in Belfast this evening, Wednesday September 9.
Billed as a "kick start live stand-up comedy again", the series is travelling to six different cities in the UK to showcase local talent, before airing the performances on BBC Three and BBC One.
Each show features a comedian local to the area as host, together with up to three other comics.
The second episode is set to be recorded in Belfast, on Wednesday at CARGO by Vertigo, located in the Titanic Quarter.
Hosted by Paddy Raff, current Funny Woman finalist Mary O’Connell , ‘All Killa No Filla’ podcast star Rachel Fairburn and local comic Shane Todd will perform. Tickets for Belfast are sold out.
The news comes as Northern Irish comedians have begun to take the first steps towards live performances again following lockdown.
Paddy Raff, fresh from BBC pilot 'The Paddy Raff Show', is set to take to the stage with his 'Paddy and Nigel on Tour' in November, followed by a massive show at the SSE Arena at the start of next year.
Elsewhere, comedians such as Shane Todd and Colin Geddis have lined up performances in Limelight as part of their 'Pizza and Friends' events.
Speaking about 'Stand Up For Live Comedy', Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy, says: “It’s been the roughest time for live comedy on record and finally we can be the first broadcaster to bring audiences and comedians together in the same place again as nothing beats the magic of shared laughter.
"The UK comedy circuit is the best in the world and it’s vital that we continue to support emerging comedy talent and help launch those stars of tomorrow. Our national shared sense of humour is a crucial way to deal with adversity and remind everyone there is solidarity and much needed cheer coming to your screens soon.”
