Search is on for best student comic

Are you a student? Are you funny? Actually funny? If so the Edinburgh Festival may await you, as a quest to find the UK’s best student comedian gets underway.

Comedy guide Chortle today launched its annual competition, with heats scheduled to take place around the country.

The first prize is £1000 in cash, with the runner-up receiving £200, but competitors are also vying for a coveted place in the final at the Edinburgh Fringe.

According to Chortle, the winner also receives a valuable boost on the competitive stand-up circuit. The 2005 winner, Nathon Caton has recently had his own sketch show on Paramount Comedy.
And last year’s winner, Tom Deacon, said: “Winning the competition was the best thing I could have hoped for in becoming a professional stand-up comedian.

“It has given me a fantastic CV for getting gigs around London, in some of the best stand-up clubs. It’s also nice to have a title of “funniest student stand-up in the UK”.’

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: “This competition’s now in its fifth year, and we’ve uncovered some great student talent in that time. For the comedians, the contest not only offers a cash prize, but a great chance to be seen by the movers and shakers of the comedy industry. Who knows where it could lead.”

Entries open today and close on January 31. The competition is open to all students aged 18 years or over on January 1, 2008, enrolled in tertiary education in the UK.

For more information visit www.chortle.co.uk/student08