SYTYF winner named

James Kirk has won the annual So You Think You’re Funny? new act competition less than nine months after starting stand-up.

The 22-year-old from Paisley will now perform at next year’s Montreal Just For Laughs festival as part of his prize, which also includes £2,000 cash.

On receiving the news from Tim Minchin, Kirk said: ‘I’d like to thank the Scottish comedy circuit in general. It is a great place to learn your craft and make friends.’

Minchin, who was also one of the judges, praised the way Kirk ‘came on and did comedy on his own terms’.

His set was a slow-paced deconstruction of comedy clichés such as ‘I know what you’re thinking…’ and Jay-Z’s 99 Problems song.

In second place was Liam Williams, a 22-year-old Cambridge English graduate. He was a former member of the Footlights and is directing their show at the Fringe.

Third was Rob Beckett, a 24-year-old from South-East London.

Also performing in the final were Laura Carr, Alex Clissold-Jones, Pete Dobbing Romesh Ranganathan, Matt Richardson and Chris Turner – all of whom have less than a year’s experience on the comedy circuit.

Minchin said: ‘Competitions are good to win because it will boost your career, but it also makes those who don’t win angry. And anger will give you a bigger boost. So it doesn’t matter what the result is or what we think.’

Published: 26 Aug 2010