Musical stand-up Andy Askins has been voted Best Live Stand-Up at the 2018 UK Comedy Awards.
These are the awards voted for by fellow professionals. They were started in 2013 by John Moloney as a much-needed alternative to some of the better known comedy gongs handed out by judges and critics and non-performers.
Askins said: "I’m absolutely delighted, honoured and humbled to have been voted Best Stand Up UK 2018 by my peers. I’m a little gobsmacked, it’s lovely feeling and I’m very grateful. Mick M Ferry hit the nail on the head when he said the circuit is very healthy and has a fantastic future with all the new talent coming through. I wish there could be more than one winner because I know the voting was tight, so commiserations to those who were in the mix. Happy New Year! XX"
Since becoming a full-time comedian in 2005 Askins has headlined all the UK major comedy clubs and can be seen regularly at The Comedy Stores in London and Manchester. He also appeared at the Teenage Cancer Trust Concert at The Royal Albert Hall in 2016 and on TV on The John Bishop Show.
He continues to go from strength to strength in the live comedy world and is highly sought after as a distinctive and original talent. He is currently working on several original ideas for TV and Radio.
Best MC at the 2018 UK Comedy Awards is Mandy Knight
Best Independent Promoter at the 2018 UK Comedy Awards is Rob Riley.
Outstanding Contribution to UK Comedy went to Otiz Cannelloni.
Last year's winner Ian Stone said: "Andy is a most popular choice. He's one of those comics that other comics love to watch. There is a general feeling of love and warmth towards him. Mandy has been a stand up for nigh on thirty years and she just gets better and better. As an MC, she is peerless and anyone who's seen her warm up a recalcitrant crowd or take down a heckler knows that this award is well deserved. Rob runs some of the best gigs in the country. The comics appreciate that they all have a lot more well paid and lovely gigs to play because of Rob. Otiz is much loved and admired by absolutely everyone. He's an absolute master of the game and this goes some way to acknowledging his outstanding ability."
