Musical comedian Kate Lucas has won this year's hotly contested Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition. The final was held this evening (Saturday) at the Y Theatre as part of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival. Lucas wins £1000 and a bottle of champagane and, according to host Rob Rouse, the Sainsburys bag it came in. Phil Jerrod was second and Mark Silcox was third. Previous winners have included Miles Jupp, Johnny Vegas, Josh Widdicombe and Seann Walsh. Lucas, who is originally from Chinner in Oxfordshire and now lives in Brixton said:  "I literally couldn't be more shocked and more chuffed. I'm friends with all the finalists and they are all amazing and talented."

Lucas is a unique act who combines a warm, self-deprecating persona with a dark dry wit that that runs through her songs. She combines catchy, original melodies with sophisticated lyrics and a fresh delivery style to present her playfully bitter musings on life. She has been performing on the pro circuit for roughly a year but she has already headlined at clubs such as the Comedy Cafe and Jongleurs and performs regular middle spots at The Stand, Glee, Banana Cabaret, Bearcat, The Kings Head, Monkey Business and various others. A first runner up in both Funny’s Funny and the London New Comedy Awards, Kate won the Lastminutecomedy Club’s New Comedian of the Year and has opened for acts such as Ed Byrne, Jo Brand, Omid Djalili and Harry Hill. 

Read the full review of the Final here.