New acts, silver stand-ups and pun-slingers...

The Leicester Comedy Festival has announced the finalists in its competitions for next year.

Prime among them is the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Competition, which has taken place each February since 1995 and previously been won by the likes of Johnny Vegas, Josh Widdicombe and Romesh Ranganathan.

Finalists are nominated by  promoters  from across the country, and next year they will be:

• Nick Elleray
• Hayley Ellis
• Louise Leigh
• Lucila San Martin
• John Meagher
• Firuz Ozari
• Ashish Suri
• Sam Williams 

The final will be hosted by Sikisa at The Y in Leicester on Saturday February 19.

The UK Pun Championships were created by the festival in 2014 as a ‘celebration of the British pun’.  Those competing at next year's final at the De Montfort Hall on  ‘Punday’ February 7 will be:

• Pauline Eyre
• Friz Frizzle
• Iain MacDonald 
• Richard Pulsford 
• Rob Thomas
• Chris Norton Walker
• Richard Woof-lord 
• Jenan Younis

The Silver Stand Up Competition has been running at Leicester Comedy Festival for the past eight years for comedians aged over 55. Those shortlisted in 2022 are 

• Geoff Alderman
• Alyn Ashby
• Brian Cowles
• Nicholas Hill
• Kevin Hudson
• Paul Jennings
• Jimbo
• Professor John
• Lawrence Laidlow
• Paul Merryck
• President Obonjo
• Chris Phillips
• Sid 
• Tel Ternbull 
• Sha Wylie

The Silver Stand Up Competition, hosted by Barbara Nice, takes place on Thursday February 17  at Peter Pizzeria.

Finally, those chosen to take part in Union Jack Radio’s Circuit Breakers showcase for new acts of February 11 and 12 are Adam Anwar, Matthew Hayhurst, Kathryn Higgins, Plastic Jeezus, Kate Lovelock, Alice Markey, Joanne Sarginson and Rahul Somia 

 The 2022 Leicester Comedy Festival, which is the longest-running comedy festival in Europe, will host more than 800 performances of 560 shows across 64 venues from February 2 to 22.

Published: 17 Dec 2021