Edna to headline comedy festival

Barry Humphries was made a CBE earlier this year

Australian entertainer Dame Edna Everage is to headline a comedy festival in Scotland next year.

Dame Edna, the alter-ego of Barry Humphries, will top the bill at Glasgow's International Comedy Festival in March.

"Wait no more my little McPossums," said Dame Edna.

The annual festival, which began in 2003, will feature more than 250 performances including sets from Jimmy Carr and French and Saunders.

Dame Edna's appearance marks her only UK performance next year and will be her first visit to Scotland for over a decade.

'Wonderful news'

"I'm coming back for one night only to spread my message of caring and sharing at that spooky yet strangely intimate Clyde Auditorium," said the Dame.

Tommy Sheppard, director of the Scottish Comedy Agency which puts the festival programme together, said Dame Edna's appearance was a big coup.

"This is wonderful news. Dame Edna is the biggest international star the festival has attracted to date," he said.

Humphries was recently made a CBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The Australian entertainer did not appear as his comic alter-ego, and explained that "Dame Edna is bolder and less politically correct than me".

Dame Edna, who has fronted various TV chat shows, is best known for the catchphrase "hello possums!" and her silent sidekick Madge Allsop.