LEGENDARY Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlon will be making two appearances at a venue near you in Dorset.

Ardal, the star of Death in Paradise, will headline a night at the Electric Palace in Bridport on Saturday March 24 and will headline Sunday Night Comedy at Weymouth Pavilion on Sunday March 25.

A highly acclaimed stand-up, Ardal has toured to sell-out audiences internationally (including extensive live work across the US, Canada, Australia, Far East and Europe) and has released two top ten stand up DVDs (Ardal O’Hanlon Live and Ardal O’Hanlon Live in Dublin). He continues to be one of the most sought-after comedians working.

Lurking beneath Ardal’s mild mannered demeanour resides a sharp and probing comic brain. Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes silly, but always punchy, he has tickled audiences all over the world. In a comprehensive set, he talks about not just the things that matter but also about the things that don’t matter at all. Which covers pretty much everything. The style is observational, the subject matter is life itself, and the default expression is one of utter disbelief!

Perhaps best known on TV for his much loved role Father Dougal Maguire in Channel 4’s BAFTA winning series Father Ted, Ardal’s acclaimed roles also include George Sunday/ Thermoman in My Hero (BBC 1) and Eamon in Big Bad World (ITV); with guest leads in DR Who (BBC1) and Death In Paradise (BBC 1).

Joining Ardal in Bridport is a dazzling supporting cast with Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and Russell Howard Good News star Gareth Richards, whose hilarious stand-up and gorgeously low key comic songs have made him a constant favourite on the circuit.

Hosting the show is Bristol comedy hero Mark Olver.

In Weymouth resident host Tom Glover will oversee proceedings.

*Ardal O'Hanlon, Bridport Electric Palace, Saturday March 24. Doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm. Weymouth Pavilion, Sunday, March 25, 7.30pm. Call the box office for tickets and more information.