A TEENAGER from Blackburn is riding the wave of a burgeoning comedy career.

Lewis Costello, 16, of Brownhill, has already mixed with the comedy elite and has played to a full house in Times Square, New York.

He got his first break last year at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, held in King George’s Hall, and has never looked back.

The St Mary’s College student said: “It’s been going really well. I’ve been getting my CV about and it’s paid off with some good gigs.”

This method opened the door for him to support top Irish comedian Ed Byrne in front of 2,000 people.

Lewis said: “I sent my CV to Ed’s manager and he invited me to support him at a gig in Stockport in front of about 300 people.

“Then, when that went well, he invited me back to support him at the Lowry for the biggest gig of his tour.

“There were 2,000 people there, but I wasn’t nervous at all for some reason.

“The most nervous I’ve ever been was when I auditioned for the Frog and Bucket in front of two people!”

Ever-eager Lewis then set about knocking on some doors in an international hub of comedy.

He said: “I got the chance to decide where our next family holiday should be, and I chose New York.

“I thought I might be able to shove my CV round to a couple of comedy clubs and I managed to get a good response.

“I showed the managers of the Times Square Arts Center a video of me on YouTube and they liked it. I don’t think the American sense of humour is too different from the English, so I didn’t change my routine a lot.

“People like Eddie Izzard, who have been successful out there, haven’t so I took inspiration from that.”

Influenced by the likes of Jimmy Carr, Lee Mack, Peter Kay, and Chris Rock, Lewis says he is keen to dispel the idea that young comics have to talk about homework and computer games.

He said: “I take the fact that I’m a kid and turn it on its head.”

On October 24 he will be headlining the Don’t Hold Back show at Salford Arts Theatre.

While his comedy career is taking off, he hopes to complete his A-levels, and then go to Manchester University.

Watch our video of Lewis performing last year.