2013 Edinburgh Fringe

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Following an extensive tour of the UK and a season in London's West End in Out Of My Head - his first stand up show for over 12 years - Paul Merton returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year with his world renowned Impro Chums.

Paul and his chums, Lee Simpson, Steve Steen, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster will create a new and unique comedy show every single night, based entirely on suggestions from the audience, their own finely honed improvisational skills and an almost manic compulsion to show off.

All the Chums have been improvising with the Comedy Store Players since the mid-1980s. They are a unique, vintage blend of experience and inventiveness.

Paul Merton - a founder member of The Comedy Store Players, he still appears at the Comedy Store most Sundays. He is a regular guest on Radio 4's Just A Minute and is an established face on TV shows such as the hugely popular Have I Got News For You, Room 101, Paul Merton Looks at Alfred Hitchcock (BBC Four/BBC Two), Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood (BBC Two) and his travel series for Channel 5 in India, China, Europe and more recently Paul Merton's Adventures and the televised series of Just A Minute (BBC Two). His Autobiography is due to be published this Autumn.

Lee Simpson - became a member of the Comedy Store Players in 1987. He is a founder member of Improbable, one of the country's foremost theatre companies and along with Richard Vranch he wrote and performed on Paul Merton - The Tour and Paul Merton - The Palladium, he also directed Paul in Paul Merton - And This is Me.

Steve Steen - is a British actor and comedian best known for his improvisation partnership with Jim Sweeney. He has been a frequent improviser with Paul Merton's Impro Chums as well as with The Comedy Store Players, Steve Frost Impro All Stars and Phill Jupitus Impro Quartet.

Richard Vranch - improvises and writes comedy, and does voiceovers, cartoons and animations. He's appeared on Radio 4's Just A Minute, and toured the world from Mexico to Palestine acting in sketch shows. He co-wrote and performed in Paul's season at the London Palladium. He doesn't do music.

Suki Webster - is a regular guest of The Comedy Store Players and has toured the world with Paul Merton And His Impro Chums and more recently co-wrote Paul Merton Looks at Alfred Hitchcock (BBC Four/BBC Two) and a Morecambe and Wise tribute show (BBC One). She also co-wrote and was Assistant Director on Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood (BBC Two).