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Would someone please think of the poor comedians? While most Londoners are looking forward to holidays and hot weather this August, the capital's comedy community are preparing to decamp to the Edinburgh Fringe for the month. But before then, London is teeming with comics frantically preparing their new shows – and that means famous comedians performing work-in-progress gigs in tiny venues for next to nothing. Win!
We've rounded-up the best value Edinburgh preview comedy clubs and venues here. But, to cut straight to the chase, here's where you find the biggest Fringe names warming-up in London this summer.
Katherine Ryan
The panel show regular previews at ArtHouse Comedy Previews (July 6), Laugh Out London Comedy Festival (July 11 and 13), Always Be Comedy (July 30) and Cutty Sark (August 1).
Stewart Lee
The iconoclastic comic tests new material at Soho Theatre (June 29-July 17), The Red Imp Comedy Club (July 6) and Laugh Out London Comedy Festival (July 7).
Tim Key
Work-in-progress from the poet, Kronenbourg-guzzler and Alan Partridge star at ARGComFest (July 5), Under One Roof (July 6) and Pleasance (July 9).
Jo Brand
The grouchy stalwart's only playing a few dates in Edinburgh, but she's warming up in London at ArtHouse Comedy Previews (July 5 and 12).
Alan Davies
Jonathan 'QI' Creek is promising very rough material at the Pleasance (June 30 and July 4, 5 and 7).
Phill Jupitus
'Never Mind the Buzzcocks's music-expert team captain previews at ARGComFest (July 4).
Bridget Christie
Lots of chances to catch the soon-to-be-published author and Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, at The Invisible Dot (July 16 and August 3 and 5), Laugh With Vicky (July 2), Gorringe Giggles (July 3), ARGComFest (July 5), Up in Arms Comedy Club (July 7), Under One Roof (July 8), Laugh Out London Comedy Festival (July 9 and 11) and The Red Imp Comedy Club (July 11).
Aisling Bea
Catch work-in-progress shows from the British Comedy Award winner at ARGComFest (July 5), Laugh Out London Comedy Festival (July 12), Crying Duck Edinburgh Previews (July 29) and The Comedy Grotto's All Day Edinburgh (August 1).
James Acaster
He's been nominated for the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award three times – could 2015 be Acaster's year? See his new show first at Crack Comedy Club Southbank (July 4) ARGComFest (July 5), Under One Roof (July 6), Laugh Out London Comedy Festival (July 13) and The Comedy Grotto's All Day Edinburgh (August 1).
Looking for more London previews? See our guide to Edinburgh Fringe work-in-progress shows.
Or hoping to see theatre previews? You can catch Bryony Kimmings and Tim Grayburn's 'Fake It Till You Make It' at the Southbank Centre and Tim Crouch's 'An Oak Tree' in London, both of which are heading to the Edinburgh Fringe.