Comedian Ali Brice has been named this year’s top bingo comedy caller by London club Dabbers.

The stand-up performed as his gameshow enthusiast alter-ego Eric Meat in the competition, and wins a £1,000 cash prize and bookings to call the numbers at the company’s venues in Hackney and The City.

Brice said: ‘I’m absolutely chuffed. I really didn’t expect to get past the first round, let alone win. There have been incredible acts at each stage who I thought would have gone through ahead of me. 

‘I’m also really happy for Eric Meat. He deserves some good luck. Strikes me as quite a lonely fellow, and the wonderful crowds at Dabbers have shown him such much-needed love. Thanks to everyone involved.’’

Absurdist clown Esther Cross was named judges’ choice for her game packed with cheese puns. The other finalists were Kirsty Lucas, Fabio Lezonli and Shruti Sharma.