Taking just a minute to honour Nicholas Parsons

Leicester Comedy Festival award-winners announced

Nicholas Parsons was hailed as the ‘legend of comedy’ at the Leicester Comedy Festival awards ceremony tonight.

The 94-year-old Just A Minute host had taken part in a thanksgiving service at Leicester Cathedral as part of this year’s festival last month, to mark the event’s quarter-century.

Pevious legends hailed by the festival have included Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Rik Mayall, Ken Dodd and Sir Norman Wisdom.

Other winners tonight include Flo & Joan, the musical duo from the Nationwide ads who last week scooped a Chortle award too, and stand-up Lloyd Langford.

Festival director Geoff Rowe said "I am thrilled that Nicholas attended the ceremony to collect the trophy and join us to celebrate 25 years of Leicester Comedy Festival.

‘Nicholas celebrated a record breaking 50 years of hosting Just A Minute last December and has appeared at our festival many times over the years. It is an honour to recognise his contribution to British comedy.’

The full list of award-winners is:

Best Show: Lloyd Langford: Six Quid's Worth of Jokes

Best Debut Show: Peter Fleming: Have You Seen?

Best New Show: Andrew Ryan: Sure, You Know Yourself

Best Musical Show: Flo & Joan

Best Improv Show: Conversation Garden Does A 'Bake Off' Themed Murder Mystery

Best Kids Show : The Dark Room 4 Kids

Best Venue (under 200 capacity): Firebug

Best Venue (over 200 capacity): De Montfort Hall

Best New Venue: The Cosy Club

Liberty Award: Kids Comedy Hub [a workshop event]

Best Promoter : Jokes On Us