London will get the last laugh when this year's Canadian Comedy Awards leave Toronto for the Forest City.

Until now, the four-year-old event was held every April in Toronto.

But an announcement will be made today that the 2003 awards will be presented in London during an expanded festival from Sept. 10 to 14.

"There's so much going on in Toronto and they thought that there would be a renewed focus in bringing (the awards) to London," said Jana Green of the Bayley Group, an event and conference management company representing the festival.

More than 100 performers are expected to be in town for a film festival, performances, indoors and out, workshops and parties.

The lineup is still being finalized, but appearances by the casts of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Jessica Holmes, Shaun Majumder, Dave Broadfoot and Mike MacDonald have been confirmed. The gala awards show will be hosted by the cast of Royal Canadian Air Farce.

Venues for the event are to include the Grand Theatre, Yuk Yuk's, Centennial Hall, the University of Western Ontario and the Rockwater.

Past winners have included Mike Myers, Rick Mercer, Ron James, Mary Walsh, Colin Mochrie, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Cathy Jones and the writers and directors of This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Made in Canada.

In its first two years, the ceremony was taped and televised later on CTV and the Comedy Network.

Last year, the ceremony was held but not broadcast because it had no sponsor.

Tickets prices range from $12 to $75 and are available at 9 a.m. tomorrow through the Grand Theatre box office.