THE Sitting Room Comedy Club returns to the Monkbar Hotel in York on December 3 for a Christmas special.

Occult comedian Andrew O’Neill tops the 8pm bill with support from Bigipedia creator Nick Doody and English Comedian of the Year Brennan Reece, hosted by Jonathan Mayor.

Promoter Tom Taylor, who incidentally won the inaugural Great Yorkshire Fringe Comedian of the Year contest in July, says of his headliner: “The brilliant and highly inventive Andrew O'Neill is closing the show with his blend of quirky songs, stories and one-liners.

"I gigged with him in Manchester a couple of months ago and was blown away by his creativity and originality; I knew immediately I had to book him for the Sitting Room.

“You may have seen him on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Saxondale with Steve Coogan and Stewart Lee's Alternative Comedy Experience, but he’s at his best performing live. His innate sense of absurdism and silliness makes him one of the most inventive comic minds around today.”

York Press:

Nick Doody

Nick Doody, an international headliner of some repute, opens the show. "As a student, Nick supported the legendary Bill Hicks, at Bill's request; not a bad start to his comedy career.” says Tom.

Since then, Nick has performed all over the world and appeared on various radio and television shows, most notably The Now Show, The News Quiz and Bigipedia, for which he was the creator and head writer. He has penned jokes for Joan Rivers, Lenny Henry, Dame Edna Everage and a number of Mock The Week regulars too.

“It’s always a pleasure to have Nick on a bill," says Tom. "He’s a no-gimmick stand-up in the best way possible. Just great jokes and great stories. And, as a highly sought-after headliner, it’s a pleasure to have him open this show and contribute to what is a terrifically strong line-up.”

York Press:

Brennan Reece

Brennan Reece takes the middle spot, fresh from supporting Joe Lycett on his British tour. In 2014, he reached the final of the BBC Radio New Comedy Award and, a year later, he was crowned English Comedian of the Year.

“Brennan's energetic and often awkward approach to life is captured in his fast paced, vividly painted, humorous stories," says Tom. "He started doing comedy a couple of years before me and he’s always been someone I’ve really admired. He’s now had some really big breaks, so he’s very much the comic to look out for in the next year or so.”

Completing the line-up in his York debut will be Jonathan Mayor, one of Tom's favourite comperes at his Sitting Room gigs in his home town of Harrogate.

York Press:

Jomathan Mayor

“Jonathan sets the stage alight with his razor-sharp audience banter and stunning charisma. For my money, he’s the best MC in the country," says Tom.

“He's been nominated for Best Compère in the Chortle Awards and is Sarah Millican’s first-choice support act for both her tours and TV shows. He'll be a great host.”

Tickets cost £10 from the Monkbar Hotel reception, in St Maurice's Road, or at sittingroomcomedy.com