The Funny's Funny Female Comedian of the Year 2012 results have been announced, with Sam Savage named the winner.

Funny's Funny is a free-to-enter annual search for the funniest female comedian. This year's search involved over 250 acts from the UK and Ireland performing across 22 shows, with the final 12 competing at The Empire in Leicester Square on Friday 20th July.

The winner, Sam Savage (pictured), has been performing as a comedian for only three years and by day is a support worker for people with learning disabilities. She says: "I've always loved comedy. I had some spare money, so I booked myself on a comedy course. I had no intention of being a comic, but then found that I loved it."

As a result of her performance, Savage picks up a package which includes a £1000 cash prize sponsored by CheekyBingo.com, a photoshoot with top photographer Andy Hollingworth, and a website from designers FourToThe4.com.

The runners up in this year's competition are both originally from the other side of the Atlantic. Texan Jojo Georgiou is an IT support worker who has lived in the UK for the last 15 years and has been performing on the UK comedy circuit since 2009; and Florida-born Sarah Cassidy works at a call centre in Glasgow and has also been performing since 2009.

Musical comic Ashley Frieze, who is the founder of Funny's Funny, comments: "We were really impressed at the standard and diversity within this year's competition. We consider the event a celebration of the quality of female comedians out there."

He added: "Although there are other all-female comedy competitions in the UK, Funny's Funny remains the only one that is free to enter. Over the last two years, we have become the competition of choice for female comedians. We work hard for the benefit of our acts, and have a straightforward, decent, no-strings prize - exactly what you should expect from an organisation set up by comedians to help others get the exposure they deserve."

Funny's Funny will be running 25 showcase shows during the Edinburgh Fringe next month in which the winners, finalists, and some of their other favourite acts will be performing. Listing