In no particular order, here are the Top 5 Australian television personalities it’s worth shelling out your money to see live.

1. Adam Hills

Don’t get us started on Adam Hills.  We’re fans.  Big fans.  While he sometimes cops it for being “too nice”, Hills is a rare comic.  He remains relevant, likable and cheeky in just the right doses.  His many years of performing to live audiences all over the world have helped him become one of the most consistent, crowd-friendly shows you’ll find in the festival.  Never failing to meet expectation, and often exceeding it, this is a comic who you can consider a sure pick.  Spicks & Specks is a great show, but we’d take an hour of one-man comedy from Hills instead any day.

2.    Lehmo

Not just that-guy-who-talks-about-footy-on-the-telly, Lehmo is a talented comic… and apparently, a recovering accountant.  Affable and charming all at the same time (if a ‘bloke’ can be charming), Lehmo returns to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with another strong show.

3. Lawrence Leung

Lawrence Leung has been on our screens for a little while, but his first series, Lawrence Leung’s Choose Your Own Adventure has only been on air for two weeks thus far.  The ABC series is already proving a hit, and if you like the television experience you’ll love him live.  Leung has been a favourite of the festival scene for quite a few years, and is yet to deliver a show audiences don’t love.  This year sees him re-team with fellow Melbourne comic Andrew McClelland for their show Tim Ninjas as part of the Comedy@Trades season.  These two can both tell a tale, so without even having seen it yet, we’re confident that audiences are going to love it.

4.    Andy Muirhead

Your Nanna is probably crazy about Andy Muirhead, that lovely guy who presents Collectors on the ABC.  Don’t let that fool you.  There’s a lot more to this young comic than a fresh face and a keen smile.  He’s well worth taking a look at this year as he returns to the festival for only two shows at the State Library of Victoria.

5.    Wil Anderson

Glasshouse may be over, Gruen Transfer may only give him the chance for a quick quip, but Anderson is a staple of Australian television by now.  Many love him, some hate him, but it can’t be denied that Anderson knows how to work a crowd.  Standup is what he does best, with his frantic energy and carefully crafted shows making a whole lot of hard work look deceptively simple.  Anderson takes his craft seriously, and it is apparent any time you see him walk on a stage.