'The mind-reader who can't read minds'

Russell Howard, Bill Bailey, Marcus Brigstocke, Simon Pegg… the list of major-league comics with ties to Bristol is a long and illustrious one. And it's just about to get longer, we'd wager, with the addition of the name Chris Cox.

Raised in Backwell just outside town, Cox is a magician and comedian who uses a mix of quick wit, magic, psychology, body language and, well, lying to make you think he knows what you're thinking. In fact he is (as his stage sub-moniker "The Mind Reader Who Can't Read Minds" indicates) not a true mind-reader – but he's terrifically talented and very funny to boot, as a 2011 Top Comedy award from our colleagues at venue.co.uk bears witness. He's also got a growing army of celeb fans including Jonathan Ross and Ricky Gervais.

In his new show, Fatal Distraction, Cox re-evaluates love and rejection. "On the surface, Fatal Distraction is a mind-reading and magic show, but in reality it's so much more than that," Cox tells us. "It's actually a piece of proper theatre, with highs and lows, jokes and emotions all wrapped together with tricks that have never before been seen by the world.

"You can expect some audience interaction (don't worry, there's nothing to fear), and you will also be able to control what you see me do by thoughts alone. You can also expect to laugh and to be amazed – but most importantly you can expect a very entertaining time."

Chris Cox: Fatal Distraction Monday, September 24, Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol. See listings for details.

Three nights at the Redgrave Theatre from this master crafter of lightning puns and daft jokes. Vine's latest show varies from his usual format: it's as a kind of chat show in which the audiences are the guests. The talented Mr Vine will use audience members' life stories to craft some shaggy-dog stories – and, of course, puns galore.

The Tim Vine Chat Show Tuesday, September 25 to Thursday, September 27, Redgrave Theatre, Bristol. See listings.

Avery decent-looking bill includes the neurotic, Woody Allen-esque Josh Howie and the bantering, laddish Chris Brooker. There's also a set from Bristol's own John Robins, a hugely likeable comic with a lovely line in surreal stories from the urban jungle. Also a very decent food offer provided by Bristol's Soil Association-accredited Lettuce and Lovage.

RIPROAR Comedy Saturday, September 22, The Cresswell Centre, Anchor Rd, Bristol. See listings for details.

Pick of the weekend at Jongleurs is probably Tom Price, a cheeky, inventive comic with a background in sketch comedy. Price mixes sardonic badinage about his native Wales with some intelligent, unexpected gags. Bawdy Brum comic Susan Murray and Janey Godley, who has plenty of stage presence and some interesting life stories, are also very watchable.

Jongleurs Comedy Club Friday, September 21 to Saturday, September 22, upstairs at Eton Bar, Bristol. See listings for details.

Jongleurs Comedy Club

Upstairs at Eton Bar, Baldwin St, Bristol, 9pm (last entry 8pm), £12. 0117 927 9813 / www.jongleurs.com

See Don't Miss.

STAND UP FOR THE WEEKEND WITH ZOE LYONS AND CO.

Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken, North St, Bristol, 8.45pm/doors 7.45pm, £10. 0117 902 0344 / www.thecomedybox.co.uk

Punchy, take-no-prisoners Brighton comedienne, winner of the 2004 Babycham Funny Women Award, leads a nice- looking bill that also features the superbly caustic and bone-dry Stuart Black.

Riproar Comedy

Cresswell Centre, College Square, Anchor Rd, Bristol, 8.30pm (doors 6.30pm), £12/ £20 meal deal. 0117 914 0910 / www.riproarcomedy.co.uk

See Don't Miss.

Jongleurs Comedy Club

Upstairs at Eton Bar, Baldwin St, Bristol, 9pm (last entry 8pm), £15. 0117 927 9813 / www.jongleurs.com

See Don't Miss.

STAND UP FOR THE WEEKEND WITH ZOE LYONS AND CO.

Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken, North St, Bristol, 8.45pm/doors 7.45pm, £12. 0117 902 0344 / www.thecomedybox.co.uk

See Friday.

Krater Comedy Club

Komedia, Westgate St, Bath, 8.30pm (doors 6.30pm), £27.50 (meal deal)/£18/£14.50 /£5 NUS. 0845 293 8480 / www.komedia.co.uk/bath

A fine-looking evening featuring Gary Delaney, a deadpan comic who manages a high strike rake of inspired gags. He's joined by Josh Howie (see RIPROAR Comedy, above) and the excellent Gareth Richards.

Chris Cox: Fatal Distraction

Tobacco Factory Theatre, Raleigh Rd, Bristol, 8pm, £14. 0117 902 0344 / www.tobaccofactory theatre.com

See Don't Miss.

The Tim Vine Chat Show

Redgrave Theatre, Percival Rd, Bristol, 8pm/doors 7.30pm, £17.50. 0117 902 0344 / www.thecomedybox.co.uk

See Don't Miss.

The Tim Vine Chat Show

Redgrave Theatre, Percival Rd, Bristol, 8pm/doors 7.30pm, £17.50. 0117 902 0344 / www.thecomedybox.co.uk

See Don't Miss.

The Tim Vine Chat Show

Redgrave Theatre, Percival Rd, Bristol, 8pm/doors 7.30pm, £17.50. 0117 902 0344 / www.thecomedybox.co.uk

See Don't Miss.

BOOKING NOW

Rhod Gilbert

Colston Hall, Colston St, Bristol, Nov 20, 8pm, £25. www.colstonhall.org

Bemused, truculent and brilliantly surreal Welshman looks in for one night only. Tickets will sell fast.