Who'll be competing for the title in Edinburgh

The last finalists in this year’s Chortle Student Comedy Awards have been announced.

Triumphing at the second semi-final in London last night were:

• Dillon Mapletoft,who performed in the guise of intense artistic Danish film-maker Alexander Feisteisterberg. Originally from York, he is a 23-year-old film student at Cambridge, where he is president of the renowned Footlights comedy society.

• Harrison Charles, a 21-year-old from Guildford studying the history of art at Goldsmiths, University of London. He performed in the guise of a professional darts player.

• Frank Foucault, real name Luke Smith, a 21-year-old from Cardiff currently studying drama at Manchester. He describes himself as a ‘cabaret-esque, clown-y, character-based comedian’ influenced by the likes of Steve Martin and Simon Munnery.

• Haydn Jenkins, 22, another Cambridge undergraduate. Originally from Blaenau Ffestiniog in Snowdonia, he is studying geological sciences, while his set offered a mixture of one-liners and high-energy observational comedy.

The final, to be hosted by Mark Watson, takes place in Pleasance One at the Edinburgh Fringe on August 14. Tickets are available here.

Finalists will also be performing at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk in July.

Last night’s comedians join those who succeeded at the first semi-final on Monday:

• Jack Gleadow, 22, who is studying for a BA in radio and television in Salford. He describes his act as a'one-man variety show' and previously won the Hull Comedian of the Year title in his hometown.

• Tony Wright, 20, who is studying comedy writing and performance, also at Salford. Originally from Margate in Kent, he said: 'My style is quite warm and paced, I do one liners intertwined with personal stories.

• Riordan DJ, 21, who is studying medicine at the University of Bristol. Originally from Exmouth, he blends observational comedy with surreal one liners.

• Sam Knights, 20, who is studying English at Cambridge though is originally from Leamington Spa. A member of the famous Footlights group, he describes his humour as 'a weird brand of political comedy told through the eyes of a madman'.

The second semi final takes place at the RS Hispaniola on the London Embankment tonight. Ticket are available here.

This year’s finalists follow in the footsteps of previous successful entrants such as Joe Lycett, Simon Bird, Chris Ramsey, Tom Rosenthal, Phil Wang and Adam Hess.

Published: 10 May 2017