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The Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award ran from 1994 to 2002 when it was discontinued due to sponsorship running out. During its short life time its winners and finalists boast some of the UK's most notable comedy talent today. Amongst them are Noel Fielding, Jimmy Carr, Danny Bhoy, Frankie Boyle & Alex Zane. In its day it attracted over 1,000 entrants each year.

Contents 1 Winners prizes 2 Competition rules 3 Heats and finals 4 Winners and finalists 5 External links

[edit] Winners prizes

Despite having a short life span the competition rewarded the winners of each year with a highly lucrative reward that enabled all of them to continue as professional stand up comedians. The prize consisted of

• £2000 STG
• A booking on the university Comedy circuit
• Appearances at "Just For Laughs"in Montreal and the Melbourne Comedy Festival

[edit] Competition rules

The competition was open to any performer that was over the age of 16 and who had not performed a paid gig.

[edit] Heats and finals

The heats and semi-finals were held at the Comedy Network Clubs that were located in Universities across the UK. The finals were then held in Edinburgh during the festival in August

[edit] Winners and finalists

1996

• Frankie Boyle (Winner)
  • Noel Fielding (Finalist)
  • Zeron Gibson (Finalist)
  • Kat Nilson (Finalis)
  • Kim Binstead (Finalist)
  • Jimmy Frinton (Finalist)
  • Phil Williams (Semi-finalist)

1997

• Paul Foot (Winner)
  • Simon Evans (Finalist)
  • Susan Murray (Finaliist)
  • Michael Tombs (Finalist)

1998

• Marc Haynes (Winner)
  • Steven Merchant (Finalist)
  • Dan Antopolski (Finalist)
  • Geoff Whiting (Finalist)
  • Lee Canterbury (Finalist)
  • Dougie Dunlop (Finalist)
  • Hal Cruttenden (Finalist)
  • Stephen Grant
  • Stephen Morrison (Finalist)

1999

• Danny Bhoy (Winner)
  • Karen Taylor (Finalist)
  • Lawry Lewin (Finalist)
  • Richard Morris (Finalist)
  • Billy Lewis (Finalist)
  • Johnny Candon (Finalist)
  • Belinda Merriman (Finalist)
  • Adrian Poynton (Finalist)
  • Lara Silverstone (Finalist)
  • Alex Zane (Finalist)

2000

• Francesca Martinez (Winner)
  • Justin Moorhouse (Finalist)
  • Markus Birdman (Finalist)
  • Steve Day (Finalist)
  • Matt & McKinnon (Finalist)
  • Tom Nicholls (Finalist)
  • Karl Theobald (Finalist)
  • John Jason Whitehead (Finalist)
  • Andy Zaltzman (Finalist)

2001

• Karl Minns (Winner)
  • John Bishop (Finalist)
  • Rohan Agalawatta (Finalist)
  • Jarred Christmas (Finalist)
  • Des Clarke (Finalist)
  • Richie Devlin (Finalist)
  • PJ Gallagher (Finalist)
  • Patrick Monahan (Finalist)
  • Al Pitcher (Finalist)
  • Tom Price (Finalist)

2002

• Mark Watson (Winner)
  • Hils barker (Finalist)
  • James-Bench Capon (Finalist)
  • Gary Delaney (Finalist)
  • Steve Hall (Finalist)
  • Paul Kerensa (Finalist)
  • Ria Lina (Finalist)
  • Matthew Reed (Finalist)
  • Stan Stanley (Finalist)
  • Katie Walsh (Finalist)

[edit] External links

• Chortle page for the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award