The Frog and Bucket's annual search for a new comedy star concludes on Monday November 6 with the final of the Beat The Frog World Series competition at the Manchester club.
The World Series began in 2004 as a rounding off of the comedy year and a celebration of all those who had 'beat the frog' – where performers have to avoid being 'croaked' off by the audience. 2010 winner Brennan Reece was nominated for best newcomer Edinburgh Comedy Award last year at the Fringe. Sam Gore won in 2008 and has since gigged all over the country as well as creating the successful I See You blog. World Series victor in 2015 - Rob Mulholland - performed his debut solo show at the Fringe this year.
Other winners include Jay Hampson, Vince Atta, Pete Otway, Tom Goodliffe, Benji Waterstones, Penella Mellor and Carl Hutchinson. All have performed their own solo shows at the likes of the Edinburgh Fringe and beyond. Last year saw Dublin comic Donal Vaughan win the competition and the runner up was Mark Grimshaw. The panel, made up of comedy critics and industry bods, awarded a prize too, which went to Simon Wozniak.
The finalists this year are -
Michael Carter - hailing from Liverpool, stand up was always something he wanted to try but it was only when he joined a comedy course with a friend and he couldn't back out that he finally gave it a go.
Tayo Cousins - won the panel prize in 2015 and now returns to seize the main prize. Tells polished tales of his Nigerian father and his first gig was in New York.
Carrie Anne the Redneck Comedian - Norwich’s Carrie Anne Guthrie came to stand up after a stress induced heart attack led her to seize the day.
Dougie - a willfully bizarre character act created by James Harkness. Has a trademark haphazard approach to light entertainment.
Adam Hughes - weaving tales from the gutter and combining them with improvised humour Hughes was a finalist in the Southport comedian of the year.
Konstantin Kisin - a Russian translator from Tunbridge Wells, he was inspired by seeing a marathon amount of comedy at a festival and at his first gig shared the stage with a stripper’s pole.
Tom Lawrinson - Manchester's own and a civil servant, Lawrinson lists his favourite pastimes as Greek mythology, footy and gossip. One half of Pottervision.
Kathryn Mather - a former children's entertainer originally from Rochdale, now a mature student living in London and has been performing for two years.
Kiran Morjaria - a doctor currently living and working in Stockport, he got the performing bug at Uni in Leeds eventually moving into stand up.
The final takes place on Monday 6 November, compered by Dan Nightingale, at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, 102 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LJ. 8pm, £5 (free for students). Tickets here.
