Nine acts vie for title of best 2017 comedian

THE finalists for the Nando’s New Comedian of the Year 2017 have been announced.

The competition is organised by Southport Comedy Festival.

The competition held two heats last month at Bar 45 in Southport, and saw 30 comedians compete for a place in the final.

Although usually only eight acts are selected, organisers claim they had to select nine this year “as the standard was so high.”

The finalists have come from as far afield as London, Birmingham and Manchester.

Festival organiser Brendan Riley said: “Now established within the comedy industry, the competition has gained a great reputation and is now recognised as a great launchpad for new comedians.

“Past winners have gone on to become professional comedians. For example, George Lewis now plays the top clubs on the UK circuit and last year’s winner Simon Lomas is currently making waves on the circuit.”

The final is at The Vincent Hotel, on Lord Street, tomorrow at 8pm (Friday, October 13).

Tickets are £5 and can be purchased there without booking fee, or on the festival website at www.southport comedy festival.com.

Meet the 2017 finalists: SIAN DAVIES

Sian, from Liverpool, works in retail and has been doing stand-up comedy for just a year. TAYO COUSINS From Manchester, Tayo has pursued comedy for a while. He briefly lived in New York and participated in multiple open mic nights.

Now back in the UK, he works for a restaurant chain. JOHN MCCREADIE

John, from Liverpool, has been doing standup comedy for two years. He is a nurse. SARAH LOUISE KEEGAN

Sarah is from Wigan and has been doing stand-up for just over one year. She is an

optometrist. Rachel Fitzsimmons AJ ROBERTS

AJ, from London, has been doing stand-up for almost two years. He is currently a DJ. MICHAEL HARTLESS

Michael is from Liverpool and has been doing stand-up for just six months. He currently works in admin. RACHEL FITZSIMMONS

Rachel is from Wrexham but lives in Formby, and is as a youth worker.

She did stand-up for the first time in in the Community Link Foundation Comedy Workshop as part of Southport Comedy Festival last year. JAMES ALLEN

James, 20, is a student from Wirral. He has been doing stand-up for two years. JAMES HARKNESS

James, from Cheshire, has been doing stand-up comedy for just one year, and has already been a finalist in the York fringe new comedian competition this year.