The weekend starts tonight and there's a load of great shows on at the Manchester Comedy Festival 2010! Here's our daily guide to help you to decide what to see...

Special FX Presents: Comic FX-tra (Royal Exchange Theatre, Show time 6pm, Happy hour from 5.30pm-7pm)

Comic FX, the Royal Exchange's regular FREE monthly stand-up show, gives you an extra special line-up to celebrate the Manchester Comedy Festival, featuring special guest and award winning stand-up comic and writer, Tony Burgess. Acts also include the hilarious comedians Rod Shepherd and Dan Sharples. Don’t miss this! Click here for more info.

Stand Up For The Commuters (Apotheca, 6pm)

This quality comedy night brings you no less than four comedians in one hour. This sharp, fast-paced night of first-class banter will surely have you ready to face the weekend. Click here to buy tickets.

Mark Watson (O2 Apollo Manchester, Door time 7pm, Show time 7.30pm)

This multi-award winning comic has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Mock the Week, Have I Got News For You, and many others… Tonight, he is in Manchester with his stellar show so don't miss out. Click here to buy tickets.

Quentin Reynolds, Comedy Mindreader (Lass O’Gowrie, 7.30pm)

Winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2005, this comedy mindreader explores the psychic and the paranormal to a comic backdrop of laughter and astonishment. Quentin's is also the only show to be running for every day of the festival, so he's also got stamina. Click here to buy tickets.

The Best in Stand Up (The Comedy Store, 8pm)

The world-famous Comedy Store bring you an evening of first-class comedy with four comics at the top of their game – Andy Askins, Craig Campbell, Hal Cruttenden and a Special Guest, plus MC Justin Moorhouse. Open spots also give you the chance to see fresh-blood on a professional stage for the first time. Click here to buy tickets.

Barrel of Laughs (Frog and Bucket, Door time 7pm, Show time 8.15pm)

The award winning Toby Hadoke is MC for this spectacular evening of first-class comedy. Featuring three critically acclaimed comics – side-splitting Terry Alderton, the hilarious Noel James and the witty David Longley. Make sure you head down to the Frog and Bucket tonight! Click here to buy tickets.

Matt Tiller’s Awkward Situation (Lass O’Gowrie, 8.30pm)

For one night only, guitar-wielding comedian, Matt Tiller, reprises his acclaimed Edinburgh show for FREE with some extra new bits chucked in for good measure. Come and see this warm and engaging musical comedian! Click here for more info.

Divas of Pop (BirdCage, Door time 9pm, Show time 10.15pm, new show every 40 mins, Last show 1.30am)

BirdCage’s glamorous showgirls and sexy male dancers will give you an evening of entertainment you won’t forget! For a flamboyant, outrageous, and funny night out, head down to BirdCage. Click here to buy tickets.

Ian Cognito – Still Standing! (MCF @ Engine House, Door time 9.15pm, Show time 9.30pm)

One of the best comics on the circuit and King of alternative comedy, Ian Cognito, comes to Manchester for one night only. Find out if he’s mellowed with age or not! Click here to buy tickets.

Labels: comedy store friday, comedy tonight, ian cognito, manchester comedy festival, manchester comedy friday, mark watson, mcf, mcf2010, multitude media