Graduate vies to discover Aberdeen's Billy Connolly

A graduate of Robert Gordon University is sending a clear message to Aberdonians that the art of comedy could be much bigger in the city.

Naz Hussain (23), from Powis, who graduated with a degree in Business Studies from Aberdeen Business School in 2007, is setting his entrepreneurial dreams in motion this weekend by launching a new stand up comedy club at The Blue Lamp, Gallowgate, Aberdeen.

The former St Machar Academy pupil has links with the Edinburgh and Glasgow comedy circuit and when the opportunity arose to extend this programme to Aberdeen, Naz jumped at the chance.

He explained: "There's not a lot happening comedy wise in Aberdeen and what could be a great cultural city has definitely fallen behind Glasgow and Edinburgh. Even Dundee has a lot going on, with emerging talents such as Frankie Boyle now a major UK hit. I think it's about time we found the North-east's Billy Connolly."

The Breakneck Comedy hilarity will get underway this Sunday (31 January) at The Blue Lamp from 8pm. Seven acts hosted by Alan Anderson, well-known for touring with the likes of Alan Carr, will take to the stage. Headliners Gary Little, winner of the Scottish Comedian Awards in 2007 and 2008, and The Wee Man, a Glasweigan whose You Tube video boasts a whopping 14 million hits, will appear alongside Scott Forbes, a local man from Montrose who Naz believes could be the next big thing.

Naz said: "Newcomers like Scott Forbes can be just as funny as the big names we see on TV. I get emails from people all the time saying they have been writing stuff but don't have a platform to get noticed. Hopefully the business enterprise skills I gained at Uni and my enthusiasm for bringing comedy to Aberdeen can help to turn this around.

"We will have to see how popular Breakneck Comedy becomes but I hope that we can get bigger and better, and I'd really like to take comedy to the people, by touring smaller venues across Aberdeenshire."

Breakneck Comedy will have a spot at The Blue Lamp every Sunday evening. Tickets cost just £5 and can be purchased from the venue in advance or on the night, subject to availability. They are also available to buy online at www.breakneckcomedy.co.uk <http://www.breakneckcomedy.co.uk/>, where you can also find more information about putting yourself forward for a slot.