So You Think Your Funny? decided

Miles Jupp has won the So You Think You're Funny? competition for new comics backed by Channel 4.

The 21-year-old Edinburgh-based comic takes home £2,000 for winning the final at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Jupp, whose act is that he is landed gentry, said: "This is very nice indeed."

And the London-born comic dedicated his award to a "very special man" - Lancashire and England cricketer Mike Atherton.

Runner-up in the final, which was hosted by Graham Norton, was 24-year-old south Londoner Stefano Paolini.

The student and impressionist takes away £1,000.

Third prize of £750 was jointly won by 25-year-old Alan Carr, who won the BBC New Comedy competition earlier in the festival, and 35-year-old Michael Downey.

Other finalists were Seymour Mace, Hils Barker, Inder Manocha, John Bishop, and The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III.

The event was judged by Steve Coogan, Montreal comedy festival director Bruce Hills, E4 boss Andrew Newman, Channel 4 executives Stuart Cosgrove and Robert Popper, Sunday Times Culture editor Helen Hawkins and Karen Koren, artistic director of the Gilded Balloon.

Koren said: "The performers were absolutely fantastic."

For a list of previous winners, click here.

Published: 27 Aug 2001