The final of this year's BBC New Comedy Awards has been broadcast on BBC One. 

The compere/host was Lucy Beaumont and the judges were Josh Pugh, Shaparak Khorsandi and Babatunde Aleshe.

Over a thousand applied, more than 100 went head-to-head at showcases across the country, 30 battled it out in the regional heats, leaving just six finalists.

The winner will receive a paid commission to write and perform their own 30-minute audio pilot under the mentorship of a BBC Comedy Commissioner, plus a trophy and £1000. In addition, this year’s winner will get to perform live on the BBC as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day night of TV in March 2025 – a campaign which will also celebrate the charity's 40th anniversary. 

Now in its 29th year, the New Comedy Awards have helped launch the careers of many well-known comedy greats that regularly feature on our stages and screens, including Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Russell Howard, Romesh Ranganathan, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican, Josie Long and Joe Lycett. 

This year's finalists are pictured here. left to right: : Marty Gleeson, Jake Donaldson, Paul Hilleard, Dane Buckley, Maia Tassalini, Jonathan Oldfield

Marie Goolbourne won the Lancaster heat but sadly died five days after qualifying for the final. She was replaced in the final by runner-up of the heat Jake Donaldson.

And the winner, chosen by the judges is Paul Hilleard.

Watch the final here.

Picture Credit: BBC/Phil McIntyre TV/Philip Gatward