Because this is the fifth anniversary of a festival that most people didn't think would last into its second year, the number five crops up a lot: this year's Cat Laughs features five Irish comics, five British (two of whom are devolved, i.e. Scottish), five American new faces, five stray cats and five MCs. Here's our won Five Must Sees this year, in absolutely no order of appearance.
Armando Iannucci
It will be enough for most people that Iannucci is the co-creator and co-writer of this decade's Fawlty Towers, namely the two Alan Partridge series. But apart from that magnificent contribution, he's also the presenter and writer of the not-bad-at-all Friday/Saturday Night Armistices on BBC2. Not a traditional comic, Ianucci has only heading worked out for his material and instead relies on members of the audience to ask him questions about the issues of the day. He was a total sell-out last year, so book early.
Kyteler's, Saturday, 6.30 p.m.
Laura Kightlinger
This deliciously evil US comic comes complete with a very impressive CV of television work Stateside which includes appearances on Roseanne, Saturday Night Live and the cult cartoon series Dr Katz. Don't be taken in by her "babe" image; Kightlinger has a frighteningly fast comic mind and delves into areas that male comics can't even dream of. Very nasty but very nice.
Langton's, Friday, 8 p.m.; Watergate Theatre, Saturday and Sunday, 11 p.m.
Peter Kay
Huge curiosity value here because of his accelerated rise to fame. Just over a year ago, this Bolton comic was working as an usher in a cinema but since then he was a Perrier nominee at last year's Edinburgh festival and has written and starred in his own Channel 4 special. Nobody can quite remember when somebody last got so far so fast. Watch out for his routine on dwarfs.
The Cat Laughs Pub, Friday, 8.15 p.m., The Village Inn, Saturday and Sunday, 7.30 p.m.
Dara O'Briain
A Sunday World columnist, O'Briain is also one of the team captains on Network 2's Don't Feed The Gondolas (and he won't hear a word said against it). Very quick-witted and very pacey, O'Briain is one of the most popular Irish comics on the circuit today - and for good reason. Later in the summer he'll be performing his first full-length show at the Edinburgh festival.
Kilford Arms, Saturday and Sunday, 10 p.m.
John Mendoza
It's now traditional that every year The Cat Laughs unveils a major comedy find. Two years ago it was the highly odd but wonderful Canadian Harland Williams and last year it was the brilliant New Yorker Dave Attell. This year's smart money is going on John Mendoza, a drier-than-dry US comic who's been a big name across the Atlantic for the past 15 years.
Langton's, Friday, 10.15 p.m., The Cat Laughs Pub, Saturday, 6.45 p.m., Langton's, Sunday, 6.45 p.m.
