EVERYONE is in need of a few laughs to cheer them up by mid-January and the Oxford Playhouse has a stellar comedy line-up to do just that.

On Friday, Stewart Lee returns to the city following previous sell-out visits.

He will be testing out new material in his show A Room With a Stew, a live show that will become the fourth series of BBC 2’s Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.

Born in Shropshire in 1968, Stewart Lee began writing and performing stand-up at the age of 20. His inspiration for a career in comedy was seeing post-punk anti-comic Ted Chippington in 1984.

In 1990, he won the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year award and has spent decades touring the comedy circuit.

Stewart has written books for stand-up studies, including How I Escaped My Certain Fate and If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One, as well as theatre pieces and music for The Wire, Bucketful Of Brains, Uncut and Mojo.

The BAFTA and Comedy Award-winning stand-up comedian drops into the Playhouse on Friday, January 15, for one night only, with tickets at £21.

The following evening, panel show regular Katherine Ryan takes to the Oxford Playhouse stage for the first time with her new show, Kathbum.

The Canadian comedian, now lives in London, ridicules celebrities and uses her experiences as a Canadian, a mother and divorced woman.

Appearing fresh from her sell-out UK and Australia tours, Katherine is a regular on television shows Mock the Week, QI and Eight Out of Ten Cats. Tickets cost £20.50.

To book call 01865 305305 or see oxfordplayhouse.com