Sad? Lonely? No one loves you? Never mind, tell Valentine’s month where it can shove its roses and get out and see this lot instead. No doubt there’ll be some folk feeling far sadder stood on the stage so go give them your love (no, not like that – naughty).

The Frog and The Store

So, nervy first daters or bored long-termers don’t have to talk to each other on their Valentine’s Day night out (or maybe both are just comedy fans) as both The Frog and The Store have extra shows on Wed 14th. Both with fine line ups.

Meanwhile, The Store has its monthly gong night, King Gong, on Sun 4 with accomplished Kiwi Jarred Christmas hosting. There are, as ever, two nights of New Stuff Sundays 11 & 25 both hosted by Toby Hadoke then of course on Sun 18 local legend Alex Boardman introduces his own favourite New Comedians.

At the Frog and Bucket there’s a special visit from the talented comedian currently better known for his white suit sporting appearances on The Chase – Paul Sinha showcases his latest solo show, Shout Out to My Ex, on Sun 4. Then, on Sun 18, Adam Hess and Glenn Moore double up performing their solo shows Cactus and The Very Best of Belinda Carlisle respectively. And on Sun 25, it’s the turn of the newbies to comedy, the students on the Frog’s own Comedy Course with the end of course showcase.

Comedy @ Chorlton Irish Club, Fri 2 Feb, £12 (£10 conc)

Chorlton’s own comedy laugh-in this month with chipper Geordie Carl Hutchinson, the irrepressible Dan Nightingale and, hailing from Belfast, Ryan McDonnell. MC Justin Moorhouse keeps control.

Ahir Shah, The Lowry, Sat 3 Feb, £12 (£10 conc)

Shah’s Control was one of the must see shows at the Fringe last year garnering it an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination for best show. Wide reaching and deep thinking, the show looks at the current chaotic state of the world.

Group Therapy, Gorilla, Sat 3 Feb, £10 door, £7 early

The fine comedy club presents one of the most popular comics on the circuit – Ed Gamble, no surprise as a set of his is a consummate display of stand up. The support is bound to be great, too.

Comedy Sportz, various venues and dates.

The experimental improv troupe once again have a month-long line up shows across venues. Beginning on Sat 3, Improv Mullet has short form improv in front and long in the back (£3) at Kings Arms in Salford. On Tue 6 it’s Bang Bang Adult’s Only at the Uni of Salford (£2).

Then, on Sat 10 at Waterside Arts Centre, there is Comedy Sportz for Tots in the afternoon (£5, £3) followed by regular Comedy Sportz in the evening (£7, £5). The guys end the month over in Ramsbottom at the Civic Hall on Sat 24 with a further evening of Comedy Sportz (£7, £5).

Alun Cochrane, The Lowry, Sun 4 Feb, £15 (£13 conc)

Skilled storytelling that will beguile and tickle in equal measure from the Manchester based Yorkshireman who was born in Scotland.

Didsbury Comedy Club, Didsbury Cricket Club, £7; Heatons Comedy Club, Heatons Sports Club, £7, Sun 4 Feb.

Blackburn comic Tez Ilyas and Brighton’s Stephen Grant double-up while Josh Jones and MC Danny McLoughlin are in Didsbury and James Allen and MC Justin Moorhouse are in Heaton Moor.

Sham Bodie, Gullivers, Thu 8 Feb, £5

A baby Bodie for this month in the lounge at Gullivers. With Hannah Platt, Peter Sutcliffe, Jayne Edwards and the Delightful Sausage duo.

Chris Washington, The Lowry, Thu 15 & Thu 23 Feb, £12 (£10 conc)

Local lad Washington has been making waves on the circuit with his down to earth, no nonsense funnies. In his debut, Edinburgh Comedy Award newcomer shortlisted show, Dream Big (Within Reason), he celebrates the smaller moments in life.

Rob Auton, The Lowry, Sat 17 Feb, £12 (£10 conc)

The Hair Show is for anyone who has hair, has had hair or who has ever seen some hair. This off the wall wordsmith is one to catch.

Stephen Bailey, The Lowry, Sun 18 Feb, £12 (£10 conc)

Can’t be too long now before Bailey’s all over the TV, a tour de force of an act, chucking out the gags and the smut at a breakneck speed while giving us an insight into his life growing up in Wythenshawe.

Lefty Scum, The Lowry, Wed 21 Feb, £12 (£10 conc)

Some of the finest in political comedy stir it up with gags. With out of the box thinker Josie Long, musical duo Jonny and the Baptists and acclaimed protest musician Grace Petrie.

Dane Baptiste, The Lowry, £12 Sat 24 Feb, (£10 conc)

Baptiste’s last couple of shows have cemented his reputation as one to watch, here he takes on the modern-day religions of Gold Oil and Drugs in GOD.

Comedy at the Lowry, Sun 25 Feb

Gags take over the Lowry today with no less than three comedy shows. In the afternoon, Kiri Pritchard McLean and Rachel Fairburn share their mutual fascination with serial killers in their podcast All Killa No Filla (£18.50). Later on, veteran Irish comic Ed Byrne takes on the big room with Spoiler Alert (£27.50), and in the Quays, John Robins performs his Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show The Darkness of Robins (£18) – an angst ridden look at love.

By Marissa Burgess, Comedy Editor