Clarke, Moorhouse runners-up

Accounts manager Alan Carr has won this year's BBC New Comedy Award.

The 24-year-old Manchester comic wowed judges at this year's finals with his camp routine

Glaswegian Des Clarke, 20, and fellow Manchunian Justin Moorhouse, 31, were named runners-up.

The winners were chosen by Graeme Garden, Helen Lederer, Ralf Little, Sean Lock and Nina Wadia.

Other finalists were Jarred Christmas, Markus Birdman, Rob Deering, Russell Howard, Michael Downey, and Keith Carter.

More than 800 aspiring stand-ups had entered the competition, and they were whittled down over a number of regional heats before tonight's final.

The final will be screened on BBC Choice on Saturday September 8 and BBC1 on September 14

Also, stand-up Howard Read won the animation category for the work on his web site. The sketch category was shared by two teams - Sharon Horden and Dennis Kelly and Helen O'Brien and Dominic Stephens.

Last year's event was won by Jason-John Whitehead, with Angie McEvoy and Anthony J Brown runners-up.

Published: 13 Aug 2001