Google gives us all a laugh and raises money for charity with the Hangout Comedy Club

Right now in Edinburgh, the Fringe festival is taking place. Billed as the world's largest arts festival, this three week long extravaganza is home to the weird and the wacky, the silly and the serious, the new and the inventive. But what it's really known for is comedy; it's where many household names took their first steps on the road to fame, and huge numbers of big names come back year after year.

Thousands of shows take place in bars, basements, theatres, on street corners -- just about anywhere you can think of. The Fringe is famous the world over, and the Scottish capital swells in size as performers and fans travel from not only around the UK, but from all over the world. Sadly, not everyone who wants to make it to the festival is able to do so. Google thinks it has the answer in the form of the Hangout Comedy Club.

If you can't make it to a comedy show -- whether you're in Scotland or somewhere further afield -- Google can bring the shows to you. You can take a seat, for free, in the audience of live comedy shows where a string of comedians are hosting Hangouts.

Laugh along with the audience, from the comfort of your own home; that's the idea. But just as when you're at a "real life" comedy show, there are bound to be some hecklers in the front row. In fact, it could be you! At each online show a small number of Hangout participants will be given the opportunity to interact with the comedian.

So if you're looking to get your ribs tickled, head on over to the Hangout Comedy Club YouTube channel. Things kick off 10pm BST, August 15 and if you like what you see, you can make a donation to Comic Relief, a charity raising money for people in need all over the world. Hook up your webcam and microphone, get the Google+ Hangouts plugin installed, and get ready to have a giggle.