The September event will feature 25 comedians at five venues over four days – and if it's a success then plans are in hand to launch an annual comedy event in April 2009.

The impressive line-up was launched this week with renowned Scottish comedian Arnold Brown visiting town.

The impressive line-up includes TV star Jenny Eclair, ''Mock The Week'' regular Jeremy Hardy, and young comedy prodigy Kevin Bridges, as well as several nights that will showcase the best of Scottish comedy.

Venues include the Adam Smith College, Adam Smith Theatre, Beveridge Park Hotel and Path Tavern and The Abbey all hosting live shows between September 25-28.

Brown, the doyen of Scottish comedy, took time out from his current run at the Festival Fringe in Edinburgh to attend the launch at the Adam Smith College on Wednesday – and he was impressed with the buzz surrounding the event.

''It's been a long-time since I was last here,'' he said.
And he promised Fifers heading to his shows to ''expect the unexpected!''

Brown was joined by Tommy Sheppard, director of the Scottish Comedy Agency, which is bringing the event to town in association with Kirkcaldy Town Centre Management.

The agency is also behind the hugely successful Glasgow International Comedy Festival, and Mr Shepard added: ''We are delighted to bring the formula which has created the biggest comedy festival in the UK to Kirkcaldy.''

They were welcomed to Wednesday's launch by town centre manager Sunil Varu who hopes the event will change perceptions that Fifers are dour – and bring hundreds of visitors to Kirkcaldy.

He said: '"The response so far has been superb with hundreds of people already registered which indicates just how much everyone is looking forward to this.

''At a time of doom and gloom, the credit crunch – and the weather – this festival will give the town a real buzz."

The festival will kick-off at Beveridge Park Hotel on Thursday, September 25, with an action-packed 'Best of Irish Comedy Live' night.
Father Ted duo Michael Redmond and Joe Rooney will headline a night of Irish comedy, with Jeff O'Boyle and Niall Browne.

Award-winning Jenny Eclair, star of TV's ''Grumpy Old Women''headlines at the Adam Smith College on the Saturday.

The festival is also bringing some of the best up-and-coming names to town to celebrate the best of Irish and Scottish comedy.

Coming from a sell-out show in Glasgow is Kevin Bridges is at The Path Tavern.

He was most recently seen on Paramount Comedy's 'The World Stands Up'. Bridges and has supported Karen Dunbar.

The Fife Free Press is the official media sponsor of The Kirkcaldy Comedy Festival