The second annual UK Pun Championship has been launched by TV channel Dave, as part of their continued support of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival.  The Championships will take place on Thursday 12th February in Leicester and follows the hugely successful inaugural championship which took place in 2014.  The winner of the first competition was Darren Walsh, who went on to take part in the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships in Austin, Texas. 

Entry to the competition is open to any comedian who is currently performing regularly in the UK.  All puns used as part of the competition must be original and no competitors can have performed stand up on TV.  To enter, comedians must submit 5 original puns on any subject, together with a short biography and the selected applicants will be confirmed later this year.

The competition, due to be hosted by Lee Nelson, is a major part of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival and follows the format of a rap battle.  Topics are picked randomly on the night and competitors then take it in turns to pun about that particular topic.  The audience vote on the night for their favourite and the winner goes through to the next round.  After a full evening of pun based comedy, 2 finalists then fight it out until the winner is voted for by the crowd. 

Steve North, General Manager of Dave, said “we are delighted to present the 2015 UK Pun Championships following the huge success when we introduced the contest as part of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival 2014.  The night was described as having a ‘pantomime atmosphere’ and is already established as key comedy fixture.  We’re proud to support this grass roots search for the best punster in the UK.” 

For full details and to apply, please contact [email protected]

Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival 2015 will take place from 4th - 22nd February.  The festival’s Preview Show takes place at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on Friday 9th January.  Further information is available from www.comedy-festival.co.uk