Entries open for student comedy award

Chortle seeks stars of the future

Entries have opened for the Chortle student comedy award – the 11th year of the prestigious competition.

Previous finalists have included the likes of Simon Bird, Chris Ramsey, Tom Rosenthal and Iain Stirling – as well as many acts now making their way on the comedy circuit.

This year we'll be hosting 13 heats around the country, kicking off at Warwick University in Coventry on February 19 – followed by two London semi-finals and a final at the Edinburgh Fringe, where our winner will take home a £1,500 prize, as well as the kudos the title confers.

Since winning the competition last year, Jamali Maddix has been signed by the Get Comedy agency and is an increasingly familiar face on the circuit. 'Since winning, life's been OK,' he said. 'I've gigged In different countries, and done some festivals – just being a comic.'

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: 'We've found some great comics over the years, and Jamali is a fresh, original voice on the circuit.

'We ensure every entrant who wants to be seen is, either at heats or auditions. That means we watch hundreds of new acts, and it's always interesting to see promising comics at the start of their career.

'The advice I'd give to entrants is to think very carefully about their set in advance, especially for the conversational style of comics, where it's hard to stand out. The stars make it look like they are just telling a chatty anecdote as if they were down the pub – but in fact every line has been carefully considered to get the best laugh.'

The competition is open to over-18s in full-time education. Entries are open from now until 5pm on February 9 – the link is below, as are the rules and full details of all the heats. The first heat is at Warwick University in Coventry on February 19.

Newer acts may be asked to audition (or might be advised to, as the atmosphere is less intimidating than a gig!) before being allocated a place in a heat.

Follow the progress of the competition on social media, using the links below.