Rich Hall, Ruby Wax Lead First Melb Comedy Festival Announce

Victoria's annual mecca of mirth, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, has revealed the first line-up details for 2015's event, announcing a highly esteemed line-up of stand-ups led by event (and industry) veterans Rich Hall and Ruby Wax.

Several familiar faces will be on the comedy festival's bill when it takes over the city from March 25-April 19 next year, including Irish funnyman Jason Byrne, frequent visitor Arj Barker, the ever-acerbic Steven K Amos and Australian mainstays Wil Anderson (celebrating his 20th year at the festival), Dave Hughes, Judith Lucy and UK-based expat success Adam Hills.

Also filling out the local ranks will be faces new and old alike, including this year's Director's Choice Award winner Ronny Chieng, Fiona O'Loughlin, Rhys Nicholson, triple j breakfast host Matt Okine, Nazeem Hussain, Claire Hooper, the award-winning pairing of Sam Simmons and Steen Raskopoulos, Nick Cody, and Moosehead Awards 2015 recipient David Quirk.

International comics making the trip Down Under include SNL player, former Daily Show correspondent and briefly controversial comic Michael Che, rising YouTube star and stand-up Miranda Sings, Canadian comics Mike Wilmot and Deanne Smith, Aussie-born, US-based comedian Neil Hamburger, and South African-Kiwi comic Urzila Carlson. They're all joined by a pretty massive group of Brits bound our way, including James Acaster, Sara Pascoe, Luisa Omielan, Josie Long, Nina Conti, Milton Jones, Mark Watson and Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award winner John Kearns.

Tickets to the annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala event have sold out, though passes to the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow are still available. Meanwhile, specific shows are starting to open up for purchase from now, so head over to the festival's website to get across the relevant booking details.