FULL house, tick; hen party in silly headgear, tick; beer flowing, tick. All present? Ah, compere Norman Lovett is stuck in M1 traffic. More beer flowing, tick. He's here! The avuncular Lovett talks of fish and spectacles and introduces Ed Perry. Ed Perry is in fact Ed Petrie, 24, and the first of six finalists selected from a week of Harkers' heats involving 30 bright young comedy things.

Each is given 15 minutes of fame-seeking, the quizzical Petrie mulling over Spielberg and Lord Of The Rings geeks before a Carlsberg lager finale goes flat.

Satirical songsmiths Johnston and Johnston are identical balding twins in blue shirts - Kraftwerk meets Gilbert & George - and both are the natural straight man. Problem.

With her put-downs, scepticism, puns and surprising leaps of logic, the only female finalist, Kerry Godliman, announces a new talent in a market still too reliant on Brand, Hayridge and Eclair. Kerry gold.

Lovett introduces Brad Gilbert... hangdog Welshman Rhod Gilbert. His observations of family life and shaggy dog stories are a winning union of Dylan Thomas and the stoned Dylan off The Magic Roundabout.

Gareth Berliner plays the perky London geezer in chain and ear ring - never a winner in York, but a compere in the making - and the acerbic, astute James Sherwood's topical observations need a little more topicality.

Gilbert wins it, as he has been at talent showcases all year, but watch out for Godliman too.

Updated: 11:09 Monday, June 30, 2003