BBC New Comedy Awards

The Fire Station in Sunderland plays host to this heat of the BBC New Comedy Awards, where five hopefuls battle it out for a place in the grand final.

We’re heading north to Scotland and the legendary Leith Theatre where Lauren Steven, Dean T. Beirne, Daniel Petrie, Kyrah Gray and Alex MacKeith will perform their set before the judges decide who will go through to the Grand Final in November.

The Northern Irish heat in Ballymena is hosted by Shane Todd, with judges Martin Angolo and Diona Doherty. Comedians are Hestor Ectomy, Shane Clifford, Ruth Hunter, Richie Bree, and Mustafa Saeed

At the world-famous York Hall, Katie Norris, Jack Shepp, Hannah Lawrence, Chantel Nash, and Christian Jegard take to the stage to impress the judges and book their place in the final. Laura Smyth hosts; judges are Michael Odewale and Fatiha El-Ghorri. Head judge Josh Pugh completes the trio.

Host Guz Khan presents comedians Lorna Rose Treen, Philipp Kostelecky, Jin Hao Li, and ventriloquist Lachlan Werner. Judging them are local Nottingham comic Colin Hoult, BAFTA award-winning writer Thanyia Moore, and head judge Josh Pugh.

Comedians Ben Pollard, Sam Williams, Alex Gibbon, Leah Davies, and Frankie Monroe (aka Joe Kent-Walters) will be judged by comedian, writer, and producer Sikisa, Barry Island’s finest comedian and actor Mike Bubbins, and head judge Josh Pugh. From the Pontio Theatre at Bangor University.

Rosie Jones hosts from the King's Theatre, Glasgow and head judge Josh Pugh is joined by Zoe Lyons and Darren Herriot to judge this year's crop of finalists. 2022 winner Dan Tiernan will give a special performance before handing over the award to this year's recipient.