Chortle has launched the annual hunt to find the best student comedian in Britain.

Now in its third year, the competition is an ideal launchpad for new comics, offering a valuable prize package that helps get a foot on the stand-up ladder.

This year’s winner will receive a cash prize and a number of gigs, including the chance to perform at the Comedy Store on one of their regular club nights. Full prize details will be announced soon.

Both our previous winners, Lloyd Langford from 2004 and Nathan Caton from last year, are now regular performers on the stand-up circuit.

Caton, pictured, said: ‘Winning the competition last year was a great achievement. It opened a few doors for me, I was getting more recognition from comedy clubs and got a few TV people interested, not to mention the whole experience was amazing.’

At least six heats will be held next term, in London, Bristol, Southampton, Manchester, Coventry and Glasgow

The final will take place in May on the unique London venue, the Tattershall Castle – a paddle steamer moored on the Thames opposite the London Eye – where finalists will be seen by leading agents and other comedy industry insiders. The final will be recorded an made available on Chortle's MP3 downloads site.

Click here for details of how to enter