Dane Buckley has won Beat The Frog World Series 2022, the stand-up competition run by Manchester's Frog And Bucket comedy club.

Buckley, who has also been a finalist in LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2022 and 2Northdown New Act Competition 2022, describes himself as "the world's only left-handed, Irish, Indian, gay comedian. Probably."

His biography explains: "Hailing from a council estate in Harrow, he's been dealing with hecklers since he was 7 and quite frankly... is living for it. Dane's comedy is high-energy, self-deprecating, sarcastic and full of mischief."

Buckley won at a live final which took place last night (7th November) at the club, hosted by Danny McLoughlin. The prize was £250, a trophy, champagne and paid work.

He said: "I'm buzzing. The audience showed me such love and to win this competition in this iconic venue honestly makes my soul smile. I also LOVE frogs. Can take or leave buckets tbh."

Musical comedian Amy Webber was the runner-up in the public voting, with the special panel prize - chosen by journalist Marissa Burgess, Steve Bennett from Chortle and promoters Rob Riley and Ryan Gleeson - going to Rich Spalding.

The other finalists were James Ellis, Katie Gill-Williams, Bennet Kavanagh, Molly McGuinness, Sergi Polo and Faizan Shah. Viggo Venn had also been on the list for the final, but couldn't make the gig due to train issues.

Beat the Frog, which takes place on each Monday night at the club, sees the audience given the choice whether the acts stay on stage to deliver their full five minutes of material or are 'croaked' off before their time. Three audience members are given cards and a line up of nervous, new acts take to the stage to try and impress. A winner is chosen via a clap off from all those that survive the full five minutes. The winners throughout the year make up the acts going on to the World Series heats.

Previous winners of the World Series competition include Liam Farrelly, Brennan Reece, Rob Mulholland, Carl Hutchinson and Dan Tiernan.