Stand-up star Miles Jupp's tips for hopeful comedians

Jun 29 2008 By Steve Hendry

WHEN Miles Jupp won So You Think You're Funny? he hoped it might lead to a career in stand-up.

Seven years on, he is still telling jokes for a living and he can count Michael Caine, Catherine Zeta Jones and Balamory's Miss Hoolie among his co-stars.

The former divinity student has also carved out a successful career for himself as an actor - including the part of Archie The Inventor in the hit kids' show.

He said: "It was a major surprise when I won. Having something like SYTYF behind you is very useful in getting you gigs. Promoters will be much more inclined to let you get up and die on your backside." Miles beat The Sunday Night Project's Alan Carr in SYTYF? and is urging wannabe comics to enter the contest, set up by comedy queen Karen Koren and held annually at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival.

Fledgling comics can get a place in the final by winning the Sunday Mail's Comedy Champ contest.

Post your stand-up clips on our website and the best will take place in a heat, with the champ guaranteed a place in the SYTYF? final and the chance to win £5000.

Londoner Miles had a brief role in Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix and will soon be seen in Death Defying Acts with Catherine Zeta Jones and Is There Anybody There? with Michael Caine.

He said: "It was bloody exciting. You recognise everybody - and they think you're here to fetch them tea."