Comedy preview: CityLife Comedian Of The Year, Manchester

Although it doesn't have the same kudos as the if.Comedy Award, winners of CityLife's Comedian Of The Year certainly share the Edinburgh fringe award-winners' pedigree. Caroline Aherne, Dave Spikey and Peter Kay have all lifted the title over the years and - as if the victors weren't talented enough - there have been some pretty decent runners-up, including Johnny Vegas and Dave Gorman. Now whittled down to eight finalists, this is the best chance to see exactly what's going down comedy-wise in a town with such a great cultural heritage. With so many stars of the future unearthed on previous ocassions, you'd be a fool not to attend. John Thomson comperes.