Dave, the digital TV channel, is branching out into running live comedy nights. Titled 'Dave's Comedy Society: Live', the channel's new stand-up shows are set to take place at The Bloomsbury Theatre from mid-April.

Interestingly, the nights are not being recorded for TV broadcast, they are conventional stand-up shows which will trade on the channel's brand image. The channel says: "Punters should look out for key iconography from the channel in and around the venues at all Dave's Comedy Society: Live events, plus on stage as well, such as; flocked wallpaper, gold picture frames and stuffed animals. Attendees will also have the opportunity to raid Dave's dressing up box and pose in character for souvenir photos of their experience, which will be available to take away on the night or download from joindave.co.uk."

The inaugural night for the channel's new foray into stand-up comedy will be on Monday 18th April, with Alun Cochrane as headliner. Also on the bill will be Jason Cook, Andrew Lawrence, and musical comedy duo Frisky and Mannish.

Subsequent nights for the new comedy brand are planned at The Bloomsbury for Monday 23rd May, Tuesday 14th June and Monday 18th July.

Tickets to Dave's Comedy Society: Live are priced at £15 and available from www.thebloomsbury.com or the channel's own website, joindave.co.uk

Dave's One Night Stand, the comedy show in which comedians return to their hometowns to perform a stand-up set, returns to Dave in April. Al Murray is also filming a new comedy quiz show for the channel called Al Murray's Compete for the Meat, and news leaked earlier in the year that the channel has ordered a full new series of cult sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf.