A seriously big audience

Slapstick star Lee Evans has set a new record - by performing to the largest ever comedy audience.

The Perrier-award winner appeared before a crowd of 10,108, people beating the previous record by more than 1,000.

Evans, 41, said: 'I can't believe it. When I started out 20 years ago I never imagined I would be selling out more nights at Wembley than Coldplay - just for talking rubbish.

'Having said that, I'm knackered.' The record-breaking performance at the Manchester Evening News Arena, part of a 32-date nationwide tour, secured Evans a place in the Guinness World Record book.

Comedian Eddie Izzard held the previous record - he played to a crowd of 8,700 in 1997.