WHAT a way to start — a sold out show, a quality line-up and arguably one of the top comedians currently on the circuit.

And this was just the beginning of the You Must Be Joking Comedy Festival which will see 19 shows in 19 days in Blackburn.

For the opener, the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club put on a special event in the Windsor Suite at King George’s Hall which was a treat from start to finish.

Often with a comedy club format you get someone on the bill who fails to inspire. But last night we were served a trio of comedians who could all have headlined.

From Preston’s Dan Nightingale who got the night off to a cracking start to Alex Boardman from Manchester who had the audience in stitches with his tales of Bob the Builder, it was a special occasion.

Compere John Scott was both a genial host and a genuinely funny man in his own right and special mention should go to 15-yeard-old Lewis Costello from Wilpshire who was given a five minute slot and impressed everyone.

But the star was Brendon Burns. The controversial Aussie won the if.comedy award in Edinburgh last year and you can see why.

Definitely not for the faint-hearted, his inspired show set the standard for the rest of the festival.

l Next up: Justin Moorhouse at King George’s Hall and Mick Miller at Darwen Library Theatre, both on Sunday.