The line-up for this year's Whiffler comedy night has been announced ahead of tickets going on sale on Monday.

As part of this year's Lord Mayor's Celebrations programme, the evening, on Thursday, July 7, will have comedians Mike Gunn, Ben Norris and Otiz Cannelloni as headliners at the outdoor Whiffler Theatre in Norwich Castle's gardens.

Gunn is described as 'a self-confessed pessimist, who is superbly dark and unflinchingly funny' and recently appeared on The Michael McIntyre Comedy Roadshow.

While Norris is described as a stand-up who 'works the crowd with an arsenal of sharp lines' and Cannelloni as having 'a mind more suited to testing crash helmets, fluctuating between sheer genius and downright stupidity'.

Liz Wimms, culture and events officer at Norwich City Council, said: 'This show always sells out and is guaranteed to give you a giggle.

'It's a great opportunity to enjoy comedy outside, and is one of the first events of the Lord Mayor's Celebrations, so it's the perfect thing to kick off your weekend.'

Derek Roberton, one of the directors of Norwich's Red Card Comedy Club, thinks the line-up is an exciting one for people to look forward to.

He said: 'It's a fantastic line-up, really good for Norwich because comedy is huge at the moment and there is so much going on.

'Mike Gunn is a consummate professional and is very, very funny and hugely underrated. Ben Norris has been around for donkeys years and is another top pro who should be better known.

'He is a mix of a curmudgeoning old man and a hip young guy. I would probably put him in my top five, he deserves to be a lot better known.

'And Otiz has a really good show as well, some of his card tricks are outstanding and his one liners are out of the top drawer.'

Tickets are �7.50 in advance from the Norwich Tourist Information Centre at The Forum or �10 on the door subject to availability.

Have a look at all the events planned this summer at www.norwich.gov.uk or search for 'Norwich City Council events' on Facebook.

Are you planning a big event in Norwich? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk