New Act Competition - Grand Final

The Bath Comedy Festival New Act of the Year Competition sees 45 of the best up and coming comics in the UK compete in five heats.

The nine best acts from the competition heats battle it out in tonight's grand final, judged by a panel of comedy industry heavyweights and comedians, this year including TV and radio producer Alan Nixon, comedy commissioner Graham Smith, UK's leading comedy coach Jill Edwards & well known actress and comedian Helen Lederer.

Previous finalists include Archie Maddocks, Paul Revill, Larry Dean, Rob Beckett, Joe Lycett, Matt Richardson, Mickey Sharma, Lindsay Sharman, Harriet Kemsley and James Alderson.

Competition organiser and tonight's compere is Geoff Whiting - with 17 years on the stand-up circuit, Geoff is an established comedian and popular compere with a wealth of experience in working at all the notable comedy clubs in Europe. He has supported Michael McIntyre, Harry Hill, Dara O'Briain, Omid Djalili, Lee Mack, Ross Noble, Rhod Gilbert, Milton Jones, Micky Flanagan, Noel Fielding and Lee Hurst. Geoff is also the driving force behind Mirth Control - the largest independant comedy booker in the UK, currently booking comedy shows into more than 80 venues nationwide.

A Mirth Control and Nick Steel presentation.