EAST Lancashire's first ever comedy festival has come to a close and now it's your chance to help choose the winner of the inaugural Lancashire Telegraph Award for the best performer.

The month-long You Must Be joking festival saw 50 comedians in 16 different shows providing over 40 hours of diverse entertainment.

In total over 5,500 people enjoyed the performances held at King George's Hall and Darwen Library Theatre, a number of them complete sell-outs.

Now our panel of judges - the management at King George's Hall and Lancashire Telegraph features editor John Anson - who between them saw every show, have produced a shortlist of their top five performers from the festival.

It is from this shortlist that the Telegraph Award winner will be selected and you have a chance to sway the judge's final decision by casting your vote for your favourite on the Lancashire Telegraph website.

The final five (in alphabetical order) are:

  • Jimmy Carr. The TV favourite was chosen for the sheer professionalism of his two-hour plus show and his supreme ability of interacting with his audience.
  • Rhod Gilbert. The genial Welshman impressed the judges with his beautifully-observed and extremely clever routine.
  • Russell Howard. Created a great impression on his first visit to Blackburn with the energy of his show and the enjoyment which he clearly derived from being in front of an audience.
  • Inder Manoche. The stars of Skins was the outstanding performer of the Made in Englistan night, bringing a wry observational style and a truly original approach to stand-up.
  • Frank Sidebottom. For sheer inspired lunacy and a surreal outlook on life Timperley's favourite son remains right up their with the best.

So having seen the final five, cast your vote below. One vote per person please!

Voting closes at 12 noon next Thursday with the Lancashire Telegraph Award winner being revealed in The Guide in Friday's Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.

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