It’s that time of the year again where, shortly after dressing up as the dead and scaring the shit out of your elderly neighbours, we set fire to things and mess about with gunpowder to celebrate the hanging of a Catholic heretic. And some Brits think other cultures have some funny traditions. Anyway, keep out of trouble by going to see this lot instead.

This month at the Frog and Bucket sees the culmination of the annual World Series competition to find the best of all that Beat the Frog at the amateur night on a Monday throughout the year at the club, the grand final is on Mon 6th and Beat the Frog begins again from Mon 13th.

On Wed 8th, acts test out new material at WIP then there are two solo shows this month. Lloyd Griffith in:Undated on Sun 12th. Then Richard Herring celebrates a milestone in Oh Frig, I’m 50! on Tues 14th.

At the end of the month, all-female comedy club Laughing Cows clocks up 19 years, marking the milestone with a big birthday bash.

And don’t forget all the other, Thursday and weekend shows.

Comedy StoreOf course, the Comedy Store has a full line up of weekend shows too. There’s the amateur gong night King Gong on the first Sun of the month the 5th. Professional acts test out New Stuff on Sundays 12 and 26 and tucked in between Alex Boardman’s presents New Comedians on Sun 19.

Plenty just there at the two clubs but as ever there’s way more…

Lefty Scum, The Dancehouse, Fri 3 Nov, £15 (£12 conc)

Political comedy with a socialist slant from the brilliant Josie Long, Grace Petrie and Jonny and the Baptists. All political persuasions welcome, though blues may get a bit of a teasing.

Comedy @ Chorlton Irish Club, Fri 3 Nov, £12 (£10 conc)

Seasoned pro John Moloney, Kiwi comic Javier Jarquin and Morrissey fan Gabriel Ebulue are this month’s funnymen at the Chorlton gig plus Raymond Mearns emcees.

Group Therapy Comedy, Sat 4 Nov, Gorilla, £10 (£8 members)

In The Elvis Dead Brummie, Rob Kemp – exam’s officer by day, Elvis impersonator by night – reinterprets Evil Dead II through the music of Elvis. A runaway hit at the Fringe this year, packing out his basement room every night – a must see.

Comedysportz, Various venues

Lots of improv from the CS guys this month. On Sat 4 in Let’s See What Happens (£3) at the Kings Arms the players create a drama around a guest performer’s anecdote. On Tue 7 Bang Bang Adults Only (cheeky…) (£2) at Salford Uni Adelphi Studio is as it says on the tin, then on Fri 10 it’s Longform Fridays at the Kings Arms. Finally, there’s Improv Mullet (£3) on Thu 16 at TriBeCa, which is short in the front, long in the back (geddit?!).

Spamalot, Manchester Palace Theatre, Tue 7 – Sat 11 Nov, £17.50 – £47.40

Eric Idle’s hit stage reinterpretation of Monty Python’s Holy Grail film on tour once more.

XSMalarkey, The Bread Shed, Every Tuesday, £5 (£3 members)

Another month, another top line up from this long-running club. On Tues 7 it’s acclaimed Kiwi Javier Jarquin, on Tue 14 Lost Voice Guy performs stand up despite not being able to use his voice, wonderfully offbeat Geordie Seymour Mace pays us a visit and Tue 28 headliner is yet to be confirmed but is sure to be a good one.

Sham-Bodie-Castle-HotelSham Bodie, Soup Kitchen, Thu 9 Nov, £7 door, £5 adv, £3 early bird.

The Shammers are celebrating their 4th Birthday already. With comedy from Jayde Adams, Rich Wilson, Cheekykita and music from Charlotte Cannon. As ever there are free hot dogs.

Nick Helm, The Dancehouse, Fri 10 Nov, £12

If you haven’t seen Helm in action here’s your chance. The star of BBC’s Uncle is a force of nature on stage.

John Hegley, The Lowry, Sat 11 Nov

Luton’s poet laureate Hegley performs not one but two shows here, a family one in the afternoon I Am Poetato (£8.50, £5.50 conc) to followed by an adult evening performance Peace, Love and Potatoes (£12, £10 conc). Warning may contain spuds.

Simon AmstellSimon Amstell, The Lowry, Sun 12 Nov, £26.50

With a unique slant on social norms, everyone’s favourite vegan heads out on tour once more.

Didsbury Comedy Club, Didsbury Cricket Club, £7, Heatons Comedy Evening, The Heatons Sports Club, £7.50. Sun 12 Nov.

John Hastings and Sally-Anne Hayward double up while Pete Selwood and MC Andrew Ryan remain in Didsbury and Dawn Rigby and MC Alun Cochrane are at The Heatons.

Dead Cat Comedy, Sand Bar, Mon 13 Nov, Pay What You Want

This month class warrior James Meehan leads the night plus sets from Dead Cat’s own Red Redmond and (delightful) sausage lady Amy Gledhill.

Dead Cat comedy clubTrapdoor Comedy, Solomon’s, Tue 14 & Old Pint Pot, Wed 15, £5

November sees performances at Trapdoor Comedy from Jamali Maddix whose incisive and pertinent observations have seen him booked for TV gigs such as Live at The Apollo. Note Trapdoor’s new gig in Salford here too.

Lettuce Laugh, Slug and Lettuce, Fri 17 Nov, £12

Didsbury’s own comfy monthly comedy night. This month with the incredible Aussie comedian Brendon Burns who has more awards and nominations than socks. Plus, your regular lovable compere Jonathan Paylor.

Jerry Sadowitz, The Dancehouse, Fri 17 & Sat 18 Nov, £22.50

The title of this show, Comedian, Magician, Psychopath pretty much sums Sadowitz up. One of the most visceral performers you’re likely to see.

Tom StadeTom Stade, The Lowry, Sat 18 & Sun 19 Nov, £21

One of the most rock n roll comedy acts around, Stade returns to the live scene with I Swear, his laidback take on the world’s current messed up state.

Ed Byrne, Middleton Arena, Mon 20 Nov, £24

Skilfully crafted observations from the Irish comedian in Spoiler Alert.

Sofie Hagan, The Lowry, Wed 22 Nov, £12 (£10 conc)

In Dead Baby Frog, Danish comedian Hagan continues to make a name for herself as sought-after comedy ticket due to her intelligent rhetoric and frank life stories.

Dave Spikey, Middleton Arena, Fri 24 Nov, £18

The star of Channel 4’s Phoenix Nights and former phlebotomist with his latest show which finds him Juggling on a Motorbike.

Machynlleth Comedy Fest Showcase, The Lowry, Fri 24 Nov, £12 (£10 conc)

The comedy festival, which is on every May in mid Wales, continues to build on its reputation as a safe space for the best on the comedy circuit to showcase their latest work, which by August often becomes their Edinburgh Fringe show. Here the festival branches out beyond the mountains.

John BishopJohn Bishop, Manchester Arena, Fri 24 & Sat 25 Nov, £25 – £39.50

To think, it all started for Bishop at an amateur night in this very city back in 2000. A skilled raconteur from the beginning.

Daniel Sloss, The Lowry, Sat 25 Nov, £12 (£10 conc)

The ridiculously young, given his comedic success, Scot considers what NOW. Catch him in this cosy studio space.

Margaret Cho, The Lowry, Thu 30 Nov, £28.50

After being told by her grandmother that she looked bloated like someone who had been fished out of the river, Korean American Cho celebrates being clean of drugs, drink and suicide in Fresh Off the Bloat.

By Marissa Burgess, Comedy Editor