British Comedian of the Year

The British Comedian of the Year comes to The Attic on Thursday 1 October, one of 26 heats staged across England, Scotland and Wales. It's billed as 'the FA Cup of Comedy' because it's open to comedians of all levels, and that includes names you'll recognise from television. Hundreds apply, only some are chosen for the heats, and each act gets ten minutes of their best material. The audience votes on the night to decide who goes through to the semi-finals, so the room you're sitting in actually has a say in who makes the cut.

One person eventually takes home the biggest cash prize in UK comedy, £10,001, alongside the title. The Southampton show is one of 26 heats running across England, Scotland and Wales, so this is one of the early stages where the field is still wide open. If you've got a favourite act in the mix, this is where they start.

The Attic in Totton is the newest and most innovative entertainment club in Hampshire and the south of the UK, and it's become a bit of an icon of the city's nightlife. It hosts the annual Hampshire and Southampton Comedian of the Year competitions and plays a focal part in the New Forest Comedy Festival. Beyond comedy, it's a major live music venue and a hub for tribute acts, and it's picked up positive reviews in the Southern Evening Echo.

Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting at approximately 7.45pm and running for about two hours. Tickets are £10.00, and the venue is The Attic Comedy Club & Live Music Venue, River Studios, 32 Winsor Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 9HQ.