"IF you're unable to get to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year, then don't worry! We're bringing the festival to your door step!" says comedian Pope Lonergan, about a brand new series of Edinburgh Comedy Previews, to be held at Twenty One.

"That is unless your doorstep is in Basildon. In which case you will have to get a bus, train or drive to the venue. There's too many doorsteps. We can't bring it to all the doorsteps" he adds.

The series - hosted by Pope with Michael Wheeler and Ewan Barr, aka The Pints comedy team - will feature names such as Lauren Pattison (BBC New Talent Hotlist 2017), Ian Smith ("Proper star quality" - The Guardian), Evelyn Mok (Time Out's 'One To Watch') and many more.

The dates (21 of them) run through June and July, starting this Friday on June 1 with Loose Brie.

Entry is £5 per show, or £20 which gives you access to all the shows.

To keep updated on who is playing when, follow Pints at facebook.com/pintsboys.

* YOU can see the Pints lads performing some stand up tomorrow tonight, along with Madeleine Mehlum, at a special Pints vs Shangri-La at the Railway Hotel.

Tom Burgess and Lance Baldock, who run Shangri-La and usually playing host to a programme of music, said they decided to do "something a bit different" and combine "laughter power of the comedy behemoth that is Pints, and the low-key swearing and music-fest that has come to be known as Shangri-La".

Along with the stand up acts, there will be music and comedy from DuRr (featuring Brendan O'Hare); singing and songwriting from Sophie Burrows

"and the first airing of our new and somewhat hastily cobbled together band Sad Sons", say Lance and Tom.

Sad Sons they explain, is a selection of the duo's our tunes and choice covers, joined by "an ace rhythm section from Westcliff based drummer Steve Butler and bass player Troop - aka Chris Davison".

Admission is free, but expect to put a monetary donation in the hat.

The night starts at 8pm at the pub in Clifftown Road, Southend.