Print article | Email articleComedian of the year
Written by Lindsay Sharman and Nicola Griffin E-mail author
Venue: The Comedy StoreRating: 4/5 The final of the prestigious Comedian of the Year competition took place at the Manchester Comedy Store, as the eight finalists from the three heats battled it out for the coveted title, previously held by now well-known and loved comedians - Caroline Aherne and Peter Kaye. All acts were lengthened from the previous eight minutes to twelve. John Bishop stood out from the rest, as he incorporated new material into his set. He relayed to the audience his horror at being mistaken for fellow scouse competitor Nige. His easy style and natural stage presence made for a relaxed set. Watching John perform is as easy as sitting in your local, chatting over a pint or four with your mates - only he's so funny you'll laugh 'til you cry. Nige, the first runner-up, swaggered on stage, opening his act with a sly swipe at the phenomenally unpopular Ross Wagman. The latter preceded Nige and was dismally received by the audience, who sat in stunned silence, as he insisted on belting out his painful set for the entire twelve minutes. In contrast, Nige proved once again that he has star quality, as his set proved to be just as comically genius second time round. Unfortunately, and much to the disappointment of his fans in the audience, Nige didn't stick around to collect his runner-up prize. Apparently he didn't want to miss his bus….?! A previous favourite Des Sharples also performed some new material but unfortunately, despite his entertaining set, nerves appeared to get the better of him. Altering his act was a brave move, and perhaps affected his confidence, which would go some way to explaining why his stage presence didn't have quite the same impact it had in the qualifying heat. The terrible twosome, Electric Forecast, came in third place, with a well-rehearsed and synchronised performance. The duo weren't quite as popular as in they had been in the heat with the act appearing almost too polished. It stood out as having a lack of audience interaction, in comparison to the night's more popular performers. As well as the esteemed title, winner John Bishop walked away with well-deserved £200, runners-up Nige and Electric Forecast won £100 and £50 respectively. Compere Stephen K. Amos led the night, kicking off the evening's comedy with his powerful and distinctive style. He set the mood for the event, keeping the audience on their toes and easily dismissing all attempts to heckle.
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