Nina Gilligan has been named best act in the 2024 Comic’s Comic Award.

The accolade comes from her fellow professional comedians and comes after she was named North West Comedian Of The Year and Chortle Club Comic in 2023.

She said: ‘I was thinking about retirement and then I got the news about this.  It has got to be the most meaningful of all awards to comedians. This will cheer me up every time I think about it. 

‘It's a huge compliment being recognised by the people you admire. I definitely don't feel worthy but I do feel really, really good about it! Please don't take it off me. 

‘Thank you to all the funny, talented and very hard working people I have the privilege of gigging with.’

The best MC award went to Hayley Ellis, who said: ‘What a lovely start to the year. Thanks so much to everyone who voted it really means a lot.’

Janey Godley, who died at 63 in November, won the award for outstanding contribution to UK comedy.

And Spiky Mike – who runs Funhouse Comedy gigs in the East Midlands and beyond – was named best  independent promoter

He said: ‘Huge thanks to everybody who voted for us and to all the wonderful comedians who have played our clubs over the past 22 years. 

‘Times are tough and people need to be cheered up, so it's a great pleasure to be part of an industry that makes people laugh and brings great joy. It's also been inspiring to see acts such as Josh Pugh and Scott Bennett doing their first ever gigs at our gong shows, progressing to becoming stars.’

The Comic’s Comic awards were started in 2013 by stand-up John Moloney as he felt other prizes did not recognise professional comedians who work the circuit year in, year out.  All previous winners are listed here.