Festival crowns new act champion

Eric Rushton has been crowned this year’s Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year.

The comic, from Stone in Staffordshire, said: 'I feel like an imposter, I don’t know what happened! I expect the decision to be reversed in the next 24 hours! My mum, Loretta, will be buzzing. Thanks for all the support.’

Rushton began stand-up in 2014 and was a finalist in the Chortle Student Comedy Award in 2016 and  So You Think You're Funny  the following year.

Matt Bragg was named runner-up at the Leicester Comedy Festival last night, with Louise Young in third place.

The other finalists – all nominated by promoters around the UK – were Omar Abid, sketch duo Good Kids, Mustafa Fecto and Dinesh Nathan.

Previous winners of the competition include Jason Manford, Johnny Vegas, Romesh Ranganathan and Josh Widdicombe.

Meanwhile, Jenny Bolt won the festival’s Silver Stand-Up Competition for acts over 55; and earlier in the festival, Adele Cliff was named the UK Pun Champion.

The Leicester Comedy Festival finishes tonight.

Published: 23 Feb 2020