The shortlist for this year’s North West Comedy Awards have been released, with Johnny Vegas, Dave Spikey and Rob Brydon among the nominees.

But stand-up John Bishop, pictured, leads the field with three nominations – one for his live work and two for his Radio 4 play Happy Families, broadcast last month.

The nominees are

Best Breakthrough in Comedy
Keith Carter; John Warburton; Mike Wilkinson; Die Clatterschenkenfietermaus  

Best Stand Up on the North West Circuit
John Bishop; Alan Carr; Seymour Mace; Jason Manford

Best Touring Comedy Production/Show
Dave Spikey; Rob Brydon; Mark Thomas; Stewart Lee

Best Comedic Performance on Film and TV
Early Doors (entire cast); Johnny Vegas, (Ideal); David Threlfall (Shameless); Steve Edge (I’m With Stupid)

Best Comedic Writing
Craig Cash & Phil Mealey (Early Doors); Unbroadcastable Radioshow; Danny Peake (I’m With Stupid); John Bishop (Happy Families)

Best Comedy Club
The Comedy Store; Frog & Bucket; Laughterhouse; XS Malarkey

Best Comedy Content in a Radio Show
Michelle Mullane (Michelle Around Midnight, BBC GMR); Lee Mack (The Lee Mack Show, Radio 2); Chris Addison (The Ape That Got Lucky, Radio 4); John Bishop (Happy Families, Radio 4)

There is also a ‘people’s choice’ award for best comedic performance in a soap.

Christine Petyt from sponsors Smile said: “There are so many gifted comics coming through the ranks I’d be hard pushed to pick a shortlist, let alone a winner.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Bradley Walsh on October 28 as part of the Manchester Comedy Festival.

The Les Dawson Award for Services to Comedy will also be presented  on the night, by the comic’s widow, Tracy and their daughter Charlotte.

The judging panel is: Don Ward, founder of The Comedy Store; Michelle Mullane, Gill Isles and Jon Mountague from the BBC; Mike Barnett from the Manchester Evening News; Marissa Burgess from City Life magazine; promoter Ashley Boroda; Toby Hadoke from XS Malarkey and Adam Franklin, of Laughterhouse comedy club in Liverpool, and Tom Hunter of Liverpool’s Radio City.