Comedy of the week: Phoenix Fringe, Phoenix Cavendish Square, London W1

Wildly popular: Russell Howard (Getty Images)

Like an over-pampered pageant princess with underlying confidence issues, it seems that London can't quite leave Edinburgh alone to have its moment in the spotlight.

All month, you can dip into the Camden Fringe, and for the next nine days, the Phoenix Fringe, too – which has had the temerity to pull in a pile of top-drawer comedy names.

Edgy Josh Howie and north London mop-top Alan Davies kick things off tonight, while choice fare later in the week includes the unbelievably-not-in-Edinburgh Mark Watson (Monday), wonderful Welshman Elis James (Tuesday), wildly popular Russell Howard (Thursday), sketch aces Pappy's (Thursday) – and science-inflected ranting from Robin Ince (Friday).

phoenixfringe.co.uk, to 11 August