Stand-up contest's £12,000 jackpot

A new hunt for the best stand-up comedian is boasting the biggest cash prize in comedy – but it's only available to Scottish acts.

Top prize in the Take The Mic competition is £12,000 – £4,000 more than the main Edinburgh Comedy Award, usually won by acts far more experienced than those attracted to talent contests.

Although nothing in the rules published online states that entrants must be Scottish, organisers say you must have been born in Scotland or have lived there for the last two years.

Even the winners of each of five regional heats will win £1,000, while the best acts will be invited to appear at a week-long series of gigs leading up to the final in the Edinburgh Fringe, receiving another £100 for each performance.

The cash has been put up by sponsors The Scottish Sun and Caledonian Breweries, makers of Deuchars IPA, which will host the final in its Edinburgh plant.

Des McLean will host the regional heats, which start in Aberdeen on May 25. Entrants must be over 18, with 15 minutes of original material, and include an internet video clip with their application. Videos and photos could be used by Sun publishers News International in conjunction with the competition.

Closing date is June 16. Click here for more details.

Published: 12 May 2010