Student comedian to MC Chortle search for 2012 winner

Buy photos » Chortle Student Comedian of the Year 2009 Joe Lycett will compere the Warwick Uni heat of this year's competition (s)

COMEDY website Chortle’s annual hunt for the best student comedians will be at Warwick University on February 27.

The competition acts as a springboard for new comedy talent with previous finalists including Simon Bird from The Inbetweeners, Radio One’s Tom Deacon and CBBC’s Iain Stirling.

Twelve heats will take place around the country in February and March, followed by semi finals in May and a grand final at the Edinburgh Fringe in August with the winner getting £2,500.

Each heat will feature a top circuit compere.

The heat at Warwick University takes place in the Cooper Rooms at the Students' Union.

The MC will be former competition winner Joe Lycett, whose TV credits include Channel 4's 8 out of 10 Cats.

Last year he was a BBC New Comedy Awards finalist, in 2010 he was Chorle Best Newcomer, he Chortle Student Comedian of the Year in 2009, and has toured with Ross Noble and Jack Whitehall.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: "We’ve seen some great acts come through the competition over the past eight years, and admittedly a few shockers too, and we can’t wait to get on the road to see what this year might bring."

Entrants must be in full-time education and have five to seven minutes of original material. Log on to chortle.co.uk/student to enter and for the full rules or follow the competition on Twitter @studentcomedy or using the hashtag #studentcomedy.

Tickets for the Warwick Uni heat cost £5, £3 for students, and are on sale by calling 7657 2794. It starts at 8pm.