Back for its 5th year, Newport’s annual Comedy Port Festival will be steamrolling into the city with a bumper crop of comic talent between Monday 6 October and Saturday 11 October.

This year promises to be the best yet for side-splitting laughs and giggles galore, with a programme brimming over with award-winning international comedy acts, local funny folk, funny films and fringe performances.

The fun kicks off on Monday 6 October with a live satellite screening of Stephen Fry’s brand new stand-up comedy offering, More Fool Me. This will be a rare opportunity to catch the multi award-winning comedian, actor, presenter, writer and raconteur on stage giving a one-man comic tour de force.

On Wednesday 8 October the affectionate, moving and fantastically funny homage to the greatest comedy double act that Britain has ever seen, Eric and Little Ern, rolls into town. Vividly bringing to life some of the finest moments of Eric and Ernie’s television and stage performances, this is a brilliant comedy that recreates the universal appeal of Morecambe and Wise.

Shappi Khorsandi makes a triumphant return to The Riverfront on Thursday 9 October with a feisty, flirty and effortlessly funny performance in which every subject is handled with her signature razor-sharp wit and endless charm.

Next up is a comedy with a foodie/theatrical twist, as Crashmat Collective return with their unique, studio performance, Façade – an intimate and theatrical three course meal, during which stories unfold around you as you dine. Beautiful, funny, and always unpredictable, Crashmat will perform Façade on the evenings of Friday 10 and Saturday 11 October.

The Riverfront’s Comedy Family Fun Day on Saturday 11 October promises great entertainment for families, including a charming introduction to fringe comedy for children, with James Campbell’s Comedy 4 Kids.

Rounding up the fun and headlining the festival is none other than Jason Manford. With his unique, laugh-out-loud observations and intelligent wit, Jason is sure to make Comedy Port 2014 go out with a bang! But be quick: tickets for this event are now extremely limited.

With a programme of fringe comedy events taking place around the city, and more shows still to be announced, including a performance by Tin Shed Theatre, be sure to stay tuned for more updates from The Riverfront website and the @portcomedyfest Twitter channel.