Game for a laugh? Enter our great stand-up challenge and win a gig on the Fringe

Jun 8 2008

We're searching for the Sunday Mail's Comedy Champ.

And we've teamed up with the Gilded Balloon and the So You Think You're Funny contest to track them down.

Gilded Balloon's Karen Koren is one of the most influential people in comedy. She has launched the likes of Peter Kay, Lee Mack and Dylan Moran through the contest.

She said: "It's a good step up for performers - it lifts them to a level that would normally take years"

We will have a showcase night in Glasgow and from there we will decide who goes to the Sunday Mail heat in Edinburgh.

The winner of that will go into the overall final compared by Bill Bailey.

The Sunday Mail have doubled the prize to s5000, plus the winner goes to Montreal to perform at Just For Laughs, which is global exposure.

They also have a chance to put out a DVD with Sony Karen added: "The important thing is to be original - we know if you are doing Peter Kay or Eddie Izzard.

"It's a great line-up for the Edinburgh Comedy Festival this year - we have Rhona Cameron, Lynne Ferguson plus the 21st Anniversary show for SYTYF with as many winners as possible onstage."

It will be a fantastic year - go to www.gildedballoon.co.uk for the full programme.

To enter, fill in the form below and send to: Comedy Champ, Sunday Mail, One Central Quay, Glasgow, G3 8DA.

RULES

1. The performer must not have performed stand up regularly, paid or unpaid, before September 1, 2007.

2. The performer should not have appeared in So You Think You're Funny before.

3. Material must be all original.

4. Performer must have at least eight minutes of material.

5. The organisers reserve the right to select all entrants and decisions taken by the organisers and judges are final.