A new comedy contest is set to be launched in 2023... Stuart Laws has announced the Comedians Beer Mat Flipping Championship.

The format involves eight top comedians competing to see who is best at turning over little cardboard discs.

The first show will take place this March in London, then there's a round scheduled for April's Machynlleth Comedy Festival, followed by a contest in Edinburgh in August, with a fourth planned for the autumn.

Talking to British Comedy Guide, Stuart Laws says: "I was taught to flip beer mats at the age of 3. Should I have been hanging about working men's clubs then? It was a different time, but still probably not. Nothing in the entire world can beat the thrill of landing a big stack or speed flipping your way into someone's heart so I wanted to bring that excitement to the comedy stage.

"The 8 comedians competing will bring different skill levels but the same desire to win. For the audience they'll have a new favourite sport. I can't wait to see how the rivalries play out as we pit podcast and romantic partners up against each other, encourage trick shots and trash talk and witness what it takes to win the trophy (real, big trophy)."

The first show is set for the 21Soho venue on 3rd March, with Laws joined by co-hosts Sikisa and Bella Hull.

The full line-up of contestants has yet to be revealed, but it is known that Sarah Keyworth, Pierre Novellie, Harriet Kemsley and Ania Magliano will be amongst those competing.

The promotional blurb for the show says: "Expect trick shots, live betting odds, trash talk and a night to remember."

Aside from the regular seats, 18 VIP 'courtside seats' are available. Marketing these seats, the tickets page says: "Be at the very front of the action, seeing the beer mats flip in visceral close up and with a table of your own, with official event beer mats so you can be part of the action."

Update: Video highlights