Full list of semi-finalists

The full list of semi-finalists in the BBC Radio New Comedy Award are revealed today.

Catherine Bohart, Ian Lane, Lauren Pattison, Lindsey Santoro, Tom Taylor and Sindhu Vee have been selected for the last wildcard places in the penultimate round of the prestigious competition.

They join heat winners Alex Mahoney, George Lewis, Jethro Bradley, Sean Morley, Joe Jacobs and Michael Odewale.

The 12 will compete in semi-finals the Edinburgh Fringe on August 5 and 6, with each being broadcast on Radio 4 Extra at 11pm one week later, with the final on August 14 being broadcast live on Radio 4 from 6.15pm

Some of this year's heats can be heard here

Previous finalists include Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Julian Barratt, Marcus Brigstocke, Russell Howard, Rhod Gilbert, David O'Doherty and Shappi Khorsandi.

Here is a little more about each 2016 semi-finalist:

Catherine Bohart

'The OCD, bisexual offspring of a Catholic deacon', Catherine Bohart got to the semi-finals of a couple of new act competitions in 2015, and is performing a split bill show, Cat Call, at this year's Fringe. .

Jethro Bradley

Windsor-born, Cardiff-raised Jethro Bradley started in comedy via improv groups and has been performing stand-up regularly since about 2013.  

Joe Jacobs

Joe Jacobs started comedy in 2012, and says he has an 'often bleak outlook on the world', and sometimes includes rap singing in his set.  

Ian Lane

Born in Aldershot to an Army dad, Ian Lane now lives in South East London and works for a travel website. He was previously made it through to the broadcast heats of this competition in 2013 and 2014, when he was also a semi-finalist.

George Lewis

George Lewis won the Amused Moose Laugh Off at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe, and runner-up in the 2016 Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, among victories a number of smaller new act competitions.

Alex Mahoney

A comedian from the Welsh Valleys who describes his comedy as simply: 'short jokes'.

Sean Morley

It's the second year running that left-field, Sheffield-based comedian Sean Morley has made the semi-finals of this competition. He performed his first solo show at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe, entitled Diffident.

Michael Odewale

Michael Odewale, 21, says he covers 'important issues such as racism, politics and pigeons' in his comedy. He has been performing since around 2014, starting  while at university, and is also a finalist in this year's Chortle Student Comedy Award, also to be held at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Lauren Pattison

At 22, Lauren Pattison is already a regular on the North East circuit. She was a finalist in the 2015 Chortle Student Comedy Award and has supported Katherine Ryan on tour.

Lindsey Santoro

From Birmingham, Lindesy Santoro has been active on the Midlands comedy circuit since 2014, following a comedy course. She describes her style as a mix of the down-to-earth and the madcap.

Tom Taylor

Tom Taylor is musical comic who has already supported Simon Munnery on tour and starred in the one-man play, The Game's a Foot, Try the Fish. He won the Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year in 2015.

Sindhu Vee

Born and brought up in India, Sindhu Vee is now based in London and splits her time between comedy and raising her three children – and gigantic labrador.

Published: 25 Jul 2016