Fringe comedy shows to look out for in 2011

Margaret Cho, Todd Barry and Imran Yusuf among 2011 ones to watch.

Imran Yusuf helps himself to stardom

Not so long ago, this British-Muslim phenomenon was a games tester without a 'single positive aspect' to his life. A trip to see much-mocked self-help guru Tony Robbins changed all that.

Imran Yusuf: Best dino impressionist / mock terrorist

Whatever he goes on to achieve in his comedy career, Imran Yusuf already has three mightily impressive entries on his CV.

Hard work pays off for free comedian Imran Yusuf

Imran Yusuf must be the hardest-working comedian in Edinburgh.

With the Damoclean threat of BBC funding cuts being waved above Auntie's channels and stations, this new-talent comedy seems just the kind of show it should be investing in to justify its existence. Here lie sketches and standup from a cast of young comics, including last year's Chortle student comic of the year, Joe Lycett, and others including Joanne Lau, Imran Yusuf and Sarah Campbell.

Often, TV comedy is a slow-moving carousel of the same old, established names. So welcome this pilot, which gives young comics a shop window for their stand-up and sketches. Do you know any of these names? Naz Osmanoglu, Joe Lycett, Imran Yusuf, Lou Sanders, Jason Patterson, Joanne Lau, Ben Sarpong, Eric Lampaert, Victor Daniels, Amy Hoggart, Price Abdi, Annette Fagon, Sarah Campbell? Me neither. Most of them are unknown for a reason, but shows like this only have to find one likely future star: my money's on Miss London.