British and Irish stand-ups are mounting a new assault on the US.

Tommy Tiernan, Lee Evans and Bill Bailey are all playing limited runs in the States in March and April, all trying to raise their profile in the lucrative American market.

Tommy Tiernan leads what is billed as a ‘British/Irish Comedy Invasion’ and Los Angeles’s UCLA from March 15.

It is the Perrier-winner’s West Cost debut following a successful off-Broadway run, where the New York Times called him: ‘splendid … bright, original and refreshingly funny’.

Immediately after his acclaimed Loose tour finishes, Bill Bailey comes to the same university theatre with his show, Part Troll.

The three-week show, starting on April 5, is being promoted with a quote from Eddie Izzard: ‘If you dig my stuff, you’re gonna love his stuff … and he’s not a transvestite! I think he’s fucking funny.’

Also in April, Lee Evans is performing a two-week run of his XL tour on New York City, although the dates and the venue have not yet been announced.