If you think about it, there aren't that many words that rhyme with festival.

"We sat down for ages and the best we could come up with was ventricle and testicle, neither of which are very useful," says Andy Pearson, one quarter of the Hull comedy troupe Live Naked Idiots.

The funny foursome, who will be bringing their surreal brand of sketch humour to The Haworth Arms, in Cottingham Road, Hull, both tomorrow (FRI) and Sunday to help launch the second annual Hull Comedy Festival have also been given the honour of performing the festival's official anthem which they will be singing at events throughout the next two weeks.

"It was a bit of an honour to be chosen," says Andy, who makes up the Idiots alongside Alex Baldacci, Iain Thompson and Daniel Sproats.

"I think there were about 12 entries put forward for the anthem, which is pretty respectable considering how much effort it takes to actually sit down and write a song."

Actor and stand-up comedian Alex Baldacci, said: "It's amazingly difficult to actually write a song about just one thing, especially when festival doesn't rhyme with anything.

"And, as good as the song is, I don't expect it have much longevity after the next two weeks. In fact, I'm glad we spent so much time and money on it."

The video for the anthem was filmed in and around Hull and features comedic heroes such as Charlie Chaplin and, er, a man in a giant elephant suit arriving in the city for the 15-day festival which will feature giants of the stand-up scene including Frankie Boyle and Russell Howard alongside a plethora of fringe events.

The Idiots are especially looking forward to returning to the festival fringe after making their debut at the debut event last year.

"We were pleasantly surprised just how successful we were last year," say Andy.

"I think when we started out we were thinking of doing more satirical material but what emerged was more surreal characters and sketch comedy," adds Alex. "I think there's a string Hull influence running through our comedy, a definite northern flavour."

Some familiar characters will be making a welcome return at the Haworth Arms tomorrow, after proving a humorous hits at last year's show.

"Yes, we've bringing back a couple of the characters who did really well last year and moving their stories on a bit," says Andy. "We've got the three dogs who run a car rental business and somehow end up on a German U-Boat, and 'the Gods' which went down particularly well last year. This year they're starring in a Bollywood musical."

The festival could be a start of big things for the foursome who will be taking their show on the road next year, writing more material, and hoping to establish themselves on a national stage.

"We'll see what happens," says Andy. "But we have such a good time doing it that we want to take it as far as we can."

The Live Naked Idiots will be performing at the Haworth Arms, Cottingham Road, Hull, both tomorrow and Sunday at 8pm. Tickets cost £5 on door. For more information, call (07803) 908782.