The BBC Radio New Comedy Award is now open for entries into the 2015 contest.

The prestigious competition aims to find the stand-up comedy stars of the future, with winners taking home a cash prize and various offers to work with the BBC.

The BBC has been running the scheme on-and-off since 1995, and has now built up a track record of locating future stars through the competition. Previous finalists have included the likes of Peter Kay, Josie Long, Alan Carr, Nina Conti, Russell Howard and Sarah Millican.

Following a break, the show returned via Radio 2 in 2011, with Angela Barnes, Lucy Beaumont, Steve Bugeja and Lost Voice Guy voted the winners since then.

The BBC says: "Think you are what the world of comedy needs? We want to hear what you've got. We are now taking applications and want everyone to get their best material to us.

"Whoever wins will take home £1000 and development support from the BBC Radio Comedy department; with advice, guidance and the chance to appear in slots across the BBC."

Entrants need to submit a 5-7 minute comedy routine via the BBC website before the closing date of Thursday 9th July 2015.

The 80 best entries will then be selected to appear at eight regional heats in August and September.

As was the case last year, the heats will be broadcast on Radio 4 Extra and video highlights put on the BBC website. Clips of the heat winners will also be played on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show each Friday in the build-up to the live final, which is set to be broadcast on Radio 2 in November. Judges will preside over the heats, but online and SMS votes from the Radio 2 audience will determine the overall winner at the Grand Final.

Last year's winner, Lee Ridley - who is also known via his stage name Lost Voice Guy due to the fact he has cerebral palsy and so performs using a text-to-speech app - has spoken about how the competition can give an up-and-coming stand-up comedian's career a boost. He said: "Winning the BBC New Comedy Award was such a great experience. I simply couldn't believe it when they read out my name as the winner. It meant a lot to know that both the industry and general public thought I was that good, especially when you look at previous winners.

"Winning the award has definitely opened up lots of opportunities for me. In fact, it gave me the push that I needed to quit my proper job and take up stand-up comedy full time. I've got a lot more gigs because of it, landed a couple of roles in television projects and, of course, I've got the amazing chance to write some for BBC Radio. I have the award to thank for most of that."

Talking about staging the competition again, Radio 2's Lewis Carnie says: "Radio 2 has long championed new talent on the network and this award is a great way of us finding new comedy across the UK. Not many competitions end up with a performance on the most-listened to radio station in the UK!"

Radio 4 Extra's Sioned Wiliam adds: "It is very exciting to once more throw open our doors for anyone to show us their comedy routines. This competition has such a fantastic track-record of finding future comedy stars and we will be proud to say that you heard them first on the BBC."

Patrick Kielty will once again host the final. He comments: "I look forward to hosting the BBC Radio New Comedy Awards for the fifth time. The talent remains consistently excellent and it is great to watch so many past winners go on to make such a successful career for themselves."

The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over, provided they haven't been performing regularly on the circuit for more than five years and haven't been a finalist in a previous year of the contest.

To find out more about the competition and apply visit bbc.co.uk/newcomedyaward. Applicants will need to submit an audio recording of themselves uploaded to SoundCloud. Instructions are provided on the BBC website. The application form is only available until the 9th July.

Those selected to take part in the heats will be invited to perform in either Edinburgh (25th, 26th August); Bath (8th, 9th September); London (15th, 16th September); or Birmingham (22nd, 23rd September).

Below is a new video featuring Lost Voice Guy:

View this clip on the BBC website

And here is a video featuring highlights from 2013, the year Steve Bugeja won: