THE CITY Varieties Music Hall has unveiled its first comedy acts for 2015 including a trio of funny women.

Gina Yashere, Shappi Khorsandi and Katherine Ryan will headline at the historic Leeds venue.

Following her pause for pregnancy, Shappi Khorsandi returns on April 30 with her latest over-16s show Because I’m Shappi.

Shappi is a veteran of TV shows like Live At The Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, Have I Got News For You and QI.

A City Varieties spokesman said Shappi would reflect on the good things while celebrating her haphazard, zigzag journey towards her dreams.

The spokesman said: “She introduces us to friends, family and total strangers who have helped her on her personal Yellow Brick Road.

“She has whip-crack jokes and is effortlessly funny as she handles every subject with a razor sharp wit, softened only by her deliciously mischievous delivery and endless charm.”

Gina Yashere will be at the City Varieties on March 26 with her biggest tour to date, Laugh Riot.

The former lift engineer made her comedy debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 1996 and went on to sell out shows across the world.

Following rapturously-received shows at the Underbelly Festival this summer, the veteran of US and UK TV shows will be telling both new and classic stories.

The spokesman said: “From her disappointment at being diagnosed with sleep apnoea despite losing over five stone in weight, to being coughed on, stared at and followed in China, to finding herself in a brothel in Singapore, Gina has plenty of stories to tell.”

Katherine Ryan will be at the City Varieties on May 22 with her new show Glam Role Model.

The Canadian comedienne is described as a dude who is fast becoming a recognisable face on British TV through appearances on many comedy shows.

She is described as a “fresh, often dangerously fierce pop-culture obsessed Canadian”.

Visit cityvarieties.co.uk or call 0113 2430808 to book tickets.