Sheffield’s annual comedy festival – Grin Up North – taking place between 1^st and 16^th October is promising to be bigger than ever, and after my first glance at this year’s programme I’m inclined to agree.

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The festival seems to have the perfect balance of big names and new talent this year featuring several big names performing at either City Hall or the Lyceum including Rich Hall, Dylan Moran and Frankie Boyle and a number of less well known comedians performing almost nightly at the Lescar.

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But calm down kids! Before you get too excited this festival of comedic joy doesn’t come cheap. Some of the big name shows cost up to £20 a seat, and the average show costs nearly £12, meaning this October is likely to be a month of selective comedy thrills.

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Bearing this need for selectivity in mind I have a few tips for getting the most out of the festival:

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• Don’t bother seeing Jimmy Carr (4^th/5^th October, Oval Hall, £20). Despite the fact that he’s in your face on the tele practically every night anyway, his show consists of nothing more than a constant barrage of one liners which becomes rapidly dull and certainly doesn’t justify the £20 ticket price.

• Do go and see Michael McIntyre (8^th October, The Lyceum, £15). Yes he’s on the tele a fair bit as well, but McIntyre’s show is full of quick wit, hilarious audience interaction and some of the most energetically delivered gags you’re likely to encounter. Unlike Carr, definitely worth the money.

• Get yourself down to the Lescar (most nights, £8). Just because its cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be crap. Though notice my qualification there, because some inevitably will be. But certainly try to see the excellent Matt Blaize (9^th October), Robin Ince (12^th October) and Steve Hughes (16^th October) to name but a few.