The Comedy Store Players are to be joined by a new core member for the first time in almost thirty years. Ruth Bratt will start performing at the weekly Sunday night improv show at the London venue from March.

The Comedy Store Players are currently Neil Mullarkey, Josie Lawrence, Richard Vranch and Lee Simpson. Andy Smart was also a regular with the group, up until his death last year.

Having been on stage since 1985, the show is recognised by the Guinness Book Of Records the longest running comedy show in the world.

Ruth Bratt first came to prominence when she was runner-up in the prestige Funny Women competition in 2005, and a semi-finalist in the So You Think You're Funny? competition the same year. Since then she has become an improv specialist, and co-founded Showstopper: The Improvised Musical. She is also in impro group Panthercannon, which performs regularly at the Pleasance Theatre, and one half of impro duo DnR.

She says: "It's a complete joy to join the Players. They are a bunch of hilarious idiots and I've loved playing with them as a guest over the years. If you'd told the young me watching Whose Line Is It Anyway? that one day I'd be calling myself an actual Comedy Store Player I'd never have believed you."

Josie Lawrence comments: "Ruth is one of my absolute favourite improvisers. She's hilariously funny, has the voice of an angel and the mind of a mischievous devil. We love playing with her and finally I'll have someone in the regular team that I can do harmonies with (no offence lads)."