Photo Gallery: Unique Comedian Portraits

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival kicks off again soon (8th - 24th February 2013), and those passing through the city's train station during the 17 days of the festival will be greeted by 20 telephone box sized portraits of some of Britain's most famous comedians - looking a bit different from how you may normally see them.

The portraits are the work of Andy Hollingworth, a well-known comedy photographer whose huge archive of work is considered to be one of the most comprehensive within the industry. The exhibition, called Brief Encounters, has been set up as a unique way to mark the 20th anniversary of the festival. British Comedy Guide has been given kind permission to republish some of Hollingworth's Brief Encounters photos here...

Jimmy Carr looking dapper

Sarah Millican looking tough

Johnny Vegas in a box (well, his head anyway) - clever prosthetics

A great picture of Stewart Lee

Count Arthur Strong (aka Steve Delaney) is about to become a TV star.
Watch out for his TV sitcom later this year

Harry Hill has a tactic to remember his routines

QI and Jonathan Creek star Alan Davies is ready for the weather

Jo Brand stars in this very artistic portrait from Hollingworth

Tim Vine trying to perfect his 'Pen Behind The Ear' trick

Jack Dee almost manages to raise a smile

Surreal Tony Law is one of our favourite comedians.
Watch out for him on The Alternative Comedy Experience soon

Brief Encounters: Portraits from the Andy Hollingworth Archive for Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival also features photos of the likes of Ross Noble, Bill Bailey, Jon Richardson and Rhod Gilbert. It's at the Leicester Railway Station from 8th - 24th February 2013.

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival 2013 will be the biggest in the city's history. Across the 17 days, an unprecedented 517 shows will take place in over 50 different venues. Headline acts include Alan Davies, Milton Jones, Russell Kane, Johnny Vegas and Al Murray.

Amongst the stand-up comedy scheduled there are also some interesting, less conventional, shows. Here are five that caught our eye.

The Comedy Curry Cook Off: Organised by our friends at Such Small Portions, the cook off takes over Saturday afternoons at Dave's Curry House (aka The Chutney Ivy). These free shows will see pairs of comedians cooking curry in a head-to-head battle of culinary skill and comedy. Competitors will include Show Me The Funny winner Patrick Monahan, Bleak Expectations star Tom Allen, and award-winning stand-up Diane Spencer. Host Tommy Holgate says: "At last year's show I accidentally ate the world's hottest chilli and had to down a gallon of milk on stage. This year we've got three shows, so I'll just be happy if I'm still standing by the end of February." Find out more from Such Small Portions

Comedy Blind Date: Three single male comedians battle it out to win a date with one 'lucky lady' chosen from the public.

Oh How We Laughed: A free event which will see a panel comprising of Nica Burns (Edinburgh Comedy Award founder), Don Ward (The Comedy Store), Kate Copstick (Scotsman reviewer) and John Flemming (Blogger) chart the past 20 years of live British Comedy.

Ideal Night Out: A one-off event in which Johnny Vegas and other cast members from the long running (but sadly now axed) BBC Three sitcom Ideal talk about their favourite moments from the show's seven series. They'll also be dubbing over an episode live.

The Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year contest returns, with Jarred Christmas hosting again. It's a prestigious new act stand-up contest, with a rather impressive roll call of previous winners. To find out about its history and see this year's line-up read our feature. Also of note is Silver Stand up of the Year, the comedy competition that you have to be at least 55 years of age to enter.

The complete programme for the Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival 2013 is now available to view on the festival's website: www.comedy-festival.co.uk

All portraits on this page are strictly copyright Andy Hollingworth Archive.