Hayley Ellis was a double winner at the North West Comedy Awards last night.

The stand-up said she was ‘over the moon’ at scooping the accolade for best show for Invisible Mam, about becoming a parent at the start of lockdown, as well as for best MC.

Meanwhile, Nina Gilligan was named best act; Jenny Hart best alternative act and  Dean Coughlin best breakthrough act. Mild High Club, the podcast he hosts with Amy-Le Owens, also won that category.

Over the moon to win Best Mc and Best show at the North West Comedy awards. Thank you if you voted Here’s other award winner @ninagilligan and also @Thephilellis . pic.twitter.com/A6BJIIJROM

— Hayley Ellis (@Hayles_Ellis) January 11, 2023

WE’VE WON 2 AWARDS

I won Breakthrough act of the year and @MildHighClubUK won Best podcast!

Thanks to everyone who voted for us at the Northwest Comedy Awards. It means a lot to us pic.twitter.com/yfMxWYlMlw

— Dean Coughlin (@deancoughlin_) January 12, 2023

Edinburgh best newcomer nominee Josh Jones, who last year made his debut on The Jonathan Ross Show, was named best TV act, ahead of nominees including small-screen stalwart Jason Manford.

Colin Fry, the notoriously grouchy sound and light technician at the  Frog And Bucket club, was given the legend award for 22 years service at the Manchester institution. The venue itself was named best club and its Beat The Frog gong show scooped best open-mic night.

The awards are determined by a vote of comedians and industry insiders in the North West of England.

Here’s the full list of winners

Best Act: Nina Gilligan

Nominees: Mick Ferry, Adam Rowe, Danny McLoughlin

Best Solo Show: Hayley Ellis – Invisible Mam

Nominees: Phil Ellis – Hedgehog; Adam Rowe – Imperious; Dan Nightingale – Smasher

Best MC: Hayley Ellis

Nominees: Danny McLoughlin, Paul Smith,   Phill Ellis

Breakthrough Act: Dean Coughlin

Nominees: Faizan Shah,  Jordan Ducharme,   Molly McGuinness

Best TV Act: Josh Jones

Nominees: Delightful Sausage,  Jason Manford, Stephen Bailey

Best Alternative Act: Jenny Hart

Nominees: Delightful Sausage, Foxdog Studios, Steve Royle

Legend Award: Colin Fry

Social Media Award:  Tom Lawrinson

Nominees: Freddy Quinne, Hot Water Comedy Club, Mild High Club

Best Podcast: Mild High Club

Nominees: Have A Word, Dead Men Talking,  Hot Water Green Room

Best Comedy Club: The Frog & Bucket, Manchester

Nominees: Alexanders, Chester; Comedy Station, Blackpool;  Comedy Store At Freight Island, Manchester;  Hot Water, Liverpool; Laughterhouse, Liverpool

Independent Comedy Club: XS Malarkey, Manchester

Nominees: Giggleshack, Helsby;  Trapdoor, Manchester;    Off The Rails, Saddleworth

Best Promoter: Rob Riley

Nominees: Freddy Quinne, Colin Havey, Bobby Murdoch

Best Open Mic: Beat The Frog, Frog And Bucket,Manchester

Nominees: Laughienda, Manchester;  Jokes At The Oakes, Manchester;  Comedy Vault, Manchester