British Comedy Guide has announced the launch of its first live stand-up comedy contest, raising money in aid of mental health charity SANE (https://www.sane.org.uk/). 

British Comedy Guide Presents Stand-up & Deliver will operate within the open mic circuit, with its initial 2025 run consisting of three heats and a final taking place in November. 

Aiming to find and highlight the most exciting new talent on the circuit, the contest is being run in collaboration with Off The Grid Comedy Club, based at The Cocktail Club in the City of London, located between Old Street, Liverpool Street and Shoreditch High Street stations. Off The Grid will play host to the heats, taking place on Sundays 9th, 16th and 23rd November.

The final will be held on Sunday 30th November at the Museum of Comedy in London.

All heats will be free and unticketed, with organisers asking for donations towards independent mental health charity SANE. Tickets for the final will be on sale soon. 

British Comedy Guide says: "We are extremely excited to reveal Stand-up & Deliver, our brand new contest, shining a light on the vibrant, wonderfully diverse and varied open mic stand-up comedy scene. Launching in London, we couldn't think of better partners than the Museum of Comedy and Off The Grid to work with for our first ever run, and we look forward to seeing what delights the circuit has to offer. 

"Our existing Next Big Thing (https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/news/8227/tarot-win-next-big-thing-2025/) and BCG Pro Talent Awards: Performance (https://www.comedy.co.uk/pro/talent_awards/performance/) prizes are focused on more established levels of live comedy performance, and this new title will perfectly complement them at the grass roots level, where some of the most raw, interesting talent around can be found. We can't wait to see who wins!"

 Open mic circuit acts can apply to take part in the heats until 31st October: https://forms.gle/i9oToePyx2nk5vwq7