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Ten days of festival funnies lined up for Birmingham

The seventh Birmingham Comedy Festival has attracted it’s usual chucklesome blend of tip comedy stars and local heroes of stand up, writes Alison Jones. Read

Laughing matters at the Hare and Hounds

Andrew Cowen hears how comedy is set to return to the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath Read

Stourbridge family's bid to make a difference to tsunami victims

Richard Jordan, of Stourbridge, and his daughter Caitlin describe their work for ActionAid following the 2004 tsunami. Read

Helping Muslim couples find marital harmony

Dr Wagiha Syeda, who runs a relationships clinic at Birmingham Central Mosque tells Jo Ind what needs to happen to minimise the chances of marriages like Saira Ahmed's happening again. Read

Muslim wife's battle for the life she wanted

How does a woman from a traditional Muslim family end up working as a prostitute? Saira Ahmed tells Jo Ind her story. Read

George Hook, the pearly king of the Black Country

Once there were thousands of pearl workers in the Midlands, but now there is just one. Chris Upton visits him at his workshop in the Black Country Read

Divorce the civil and sharia law way

Couples who want to divorce have to go for mediation before going through the courts. Muslims are increasingly expecting state-funded mediators to help them find a settlement in keeping with Islamic law. Jo Ind reports. Read

Finding an end to marriage in both civil and sharia law

Couples who want to divorce have to go for mediation before going through the courts. Muslims are increasingly expecting state-funded mediators to help them find a settlement in keeping with Islamic law. Jo Ind reports. Read

The real life of a bodyguard to the stars

When it comes to being a bodyguard, brains are more important then brawn, security expert Kevin Horak tells Alison Jones Read

Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre a labour of love for sisters

Jenny Smith tells Phillipa Ashley how she, twin sister Katie and mum Lesley kept Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre open after the sudden death of its founder, their dad Rob Smith. Read

Knit one, sup one at pub for cast-off aficianados

Jo Ind discovers Stitches and Hos, a group of young knitters casting on in a Birmingham pub. Read

murray Walker still has the right formula

Legendary Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker was the latest celebrity to be honoured on the Walk of Stars in Broad Street, Birmingham. The childhood home at Hall Green is a distant memory for the motorsport icon, but he still cherishes his roots with the city. Annie Roberts talks to a man who even in his eighties shows little sign of taking life easy. illustration by Darren ThomasFormula 1 fans can be forgiven for not knowing that Murray Walker had a successful career long before he became a household name. Read

Street art finds a home at the Lord Clifden

Andrew Cowen meets the Birmingham landlord who likes to brush up on art and serve his customers a good measure of culture with their real ale. Read

Claire finds her prince through internet dating

It’s the stuff of fairy tales: Girl looks for handsome prince, kisses lots of frogs, finally finds her knight in shining armour and lives happily ever after in a beautiful castle. Read

Do you know what your kids are looking at online

One in three children admit that they'd be in trouble if their parents knew what websites they were looking at, research has shown. Read

Little bundles of joy that spell double trouble for parents

Multiple births are on the increase but having twins can be double the trouble as well as the joy. Gabrielle Fagan looks at some of the problems and pleasures parents like Brad and Angelina will face Read

A simple matter of perception

Kings Heath student Ayesha Jones is pursuing a dream to become a top model, in spite of suffering from a condition that was bending her back out of shape. She tells Alison Jones how she battled to overcome it Read

Glen Wool primed for laughter

There’s something about the Edinburgh Festival which causes comedians from all around the world to flock to the Scottish capital, like moths being attracted to one enormous light bulb. Read

The art of creating a Champagne moment

It’s a rotten job, but someone’s got to do it.  Richard McComb limbers up for summer with a Champagne marathon. Read

Glastonbury - where have all the hippies gone?

Andrew Cowen first went to the Glastonbury Festival 30 years ago, but believes the modern event has turned into a monster. Read