Scott Bennett has been named best act in the Midlands Comedy Awards for the third year in a row.

The Nottingham-based Yorkshireman, who just made his Live At The Apollo debut, also triumphed in the best live show category for his tour Relax.

Awards founder Jay Shareef said: ‘It great to see so much new talent getting recognition as it shows that the Midlands as a whole is still nurturing and encouraging acts to develop.

‘No one here is surprised at Scott Bennett's success. This is his third best act win in a row and, with five in total, he's the most successful solo act in the history of the Midlands Comedy Awards.

‘His popularity has been rising for years, he's produced some pioneering online content, and his recent appearance on the BBC's Live At The Apollo has catapulted him on to a new level of success.’

Bennett – who hosted regular steamed  gigs from his shed during lockdown – was beaten into second in the online category by Jack Kirwan for his alter-ego Gary Powndland has now become the centrepiece of popular theatre-filling.

Organisers said the ‘surprise of the night ‘was in the best comedy club category, where the three-year-old Hollywood Comedy Club in South Birmingham took the prize ahead of Birmingham's well-established Glee Club.

Winners were announced at a ceremony at the Canal House in Nottingham this afternoon.

Finalists were selected via a secret ballot of the region's comedy promoters, with the winners then decided by public vote. More than 4,500 votes were cast this year.

The full list of winners are

Best Act: Scott Bennett

Second: Stevie Gray
Third: Josh Pugh

Best MC: Jon Pearson

Second: Barry Dodds
Third: Tommy Tomski

Breakthrough Act: Tal Davies

Second: Eric Rushton
Third: Kevin Daniel

Best New Act: Ricky Balshaw

Second: Josh Reynolds
Third: Leanne Easthope

Alternative: Good Kids

Second: The Boys from All Night Chemist
Third: Richard Dadd

Best Live Show: Scott Bennett - Relax

Second: Jon Pearson - What Have You Been Up To?
Third: Richard Dadd - Tea With The Devil

Online: Jack Kirwan

Second: Scott Bennett
Third: Mary Flanigan

Best Club: Hollywood Comedy Club

Second: Glee Club - Birmingham
Third: Funhouse Comedy

Best Small Club: NCF Comedy

Second: The Holly Bush
Third: RockCentral

Best Open Mic: The Holly Bush

Second: Canal House (NCF Comedy)
Third: Kamikaze Club

Outstanding Contribution:  Geoff Rowe,  founding director of Leicester Comedy Festival

The annual ceremony - which recognises work  in Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire - has been running since 2014.