From over 1,000 entries, 30 fresh new comedians have been selected from across the UK to battle it out over a series of six heats to secure their place in the grand final of the BBC New Comedy Awards 2022.

This episode comes from the Corn Exchange, Exeter, where new comics Will Hall, Leila Navabi, Omar Badawy, Kate Cheka and Michael McKenzie take to the stage in a bid to impress the judges and book their place in the final.

Comedian, actor and star of Strictly Jayde Adams is here to keep the house in order. The judges are award-winning comic Laura Smyth and Welsh stand-up Leroy Brito. Head judge Fern Brady completes the panel.

Five acts take to the stage in front of a packed house at the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

Glaswegian stand-up comedian Christopher MacArthur-Boyd is our host for the evening and joining him are the three judges – former winner of the New Comedy Awards, Josie Long; writer, comedian and actress Susan Riddell; and head judge Fern Brady.

Ania Magliano, Marjolein Robertson, Su Mi, Krystal Evans and Weegie Hink Ae That perform their sets, before the judges decide who will go through to the grand final in November. There can only be one winner, so who will it be?