Because when they're gone, they're gone!

With just a few months to go until the start of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, there are already a large number of shows on sale, before the official programme launch on 5th June.

Usually comedians prefer to get their work in progress out of the way before arriving in Edinburgh with their latest hour, however a number of comedians have chosen to use this year's festival to test out new material for future shows.

These are on the whole limited runs, from big names, and some are already selling out. So if you know that you'll be paying Edinburgh a visit in August, it's worth booking these shows NOW to avoid disappointment.

Eddie Izzard

Yes, you read that correctly, Eddie Izzard is heading to this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe to test out new material. But it's not what you'd expect. Expectations of Great Expectations is a reading/performance of Charles Dickens' classic epic Great Expectations.

As an actor and comedian, Eddie will be merging both crafts as he tests out the concept for his new show for 90 minutes, Wednesdays to Sundays at £17.50 a ticket.

Assembly George Square Studios, 7th-11th, 14th-18th, 21st-25th August at 2pm. Book tickets here.

Iain Stirling

He's the voice of Love Island and following a sell-out tour of U OK Hun? Iain Stirling is returning to Edinburgh shortly after landing back from Mallorca to test out some new jokes and read off notes. He promises that some will be great and some will be terrible!

At just £8 a ticket, this in an absolute steal, so don't wait any longer before booking.

Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market, 5th-17th August at 5:30pm. Book tickets here.

Jamali Maddix

Since last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jamali Maddix has toured his 2018 show Vape Lord, has appeared on Live At The Apollo and now one of the most exciting voices on the comedy circuit is returning to Edinburgh to work up new material for his hour.

Unlike anyone else on this list, Jamali is performing for the entire duration of the Fringe and at just £8 a ticket, this is one show you do not want to miss.

Monkey Barrel Comedy, 1st-25th August (not 12th) at 8:05pm. Book tickets here.

Joel Dommett

Joel Dommett performed 100 shows in one day at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe whereas this year he's opted for the far more sensible 8 shows in 8 days, as he tests out new material for a future show.

Quite what's in store, no one knows! But at just £8 a ticket, it's going to be fun finding out.

Gilded Balloon at Old Tolbooth Market, 18th-25th August at 5:30pm. Book tickets here.

Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Before Kiri had even arrived in Edinburgh last year for her third solo hour Victim Complex, every single ticket had been sold. And now following a successful nationwide tour Kiri is back for two weeks, as she works up a new show. She'll be testing out new jokes to see what does and doesn't work.

Sometimes £5, sometimes £7, I'd fully recommend buying a ticket to see one of my favourite comedians. If she sold out four weeks in 2018, she's bound to sell out two weeks this year!

Monkey Barrel Comedy, 3rd-10th August at 1:40pm. Book tickets here.

Omid Djalili

Omid Djalili has recently completed a UK and European tour of Schmuck for a Night and after impressing audiences both on the big screen in Mamma Mia 2 and small screen trying to impress Lord Sugar on Celebrity Apprentice, the Fringe favourite is back.

But he's only returning for 8 performances and at £15 a ticket you'd be a fool to miss Omid testing new material.

The Stand's New Town Theatre, 31st July-13th August at 3:40pm. Book tickets here.

Russell Howard

Later this year, Russell Howard begins his third and biggest world tour to date, Respite, but if you'd rather pay £5-£7.50 to watch one of this country's top comedians in an intimate room rather than an arena, then get yourself to Edinburgh and catch one of his twice-daily work in progress shows.

All profits from the sale of the tickets will be going to The Kiyan Prince Foundation.

Heroes @ The Hive, 1st-13th August at 2:20pm. Book tickets here.

Assembly George Square Studios, 1st-13th August at 6:30pm. Book tickets here.

Stewart Lee

Returning to the Fringe for the first time since 2016, Stewart Lee will be testing out new material for his upcoming double-bill of new shows, Snowflake and Tornado which he'll perform back to back from October. Tornado questions Stew’s position in the comedy marketplace and Snowflake questions Stew’s worth in a society demolishing the liberal values he has been keen to espouse.

With just 7 nights for sale and 2 already sold out, it's worth snapping up these £15 tickets before they're gone!

The Stand's New Town Theatre, 9th-15th August at 7:10pm. Book tickets here.