Radio 4 Extra is to air the 2023 final of the Chortle Student Comedy Award on Thursday 13th July.

This will be the first time in the competition's almost 20-year history that it has been broadcast. Launched in 2004, the contest sees university students from around the country perform in local heats, before taking part in a final.

Stand-up stars who have won the contest include Joe Lycett, Jamali Maddix and Phil Wang.

This year's final, which will be hosted by Mark Watson, will take place at the Up The Creek comedy club in Greenwich on 12th July (tickets), with the recording then being broadcast on Radio 4 Extra the following night, Thursday, at 10:30pm.

Heats for the 2023 contest have been held in St Andrews, Edinburgh, Durham, Salford, York, Warwick, Bristol, London and Dublin, with the finalists set to be chosen at semi-finals at London's Bloomsbury Theatre tomorrow (27th April) and 9th May.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett says: "I'm so proud of the fantastic things our alumni have gone on to achieve in comedy, and hope the Chortle Student Comedy Award helped them make those early steps into their careers.

"It's brilliant that our finalists this year will get even greater exposure for their talents on national radio - while listeners will get to hear these creative up-and-coming talents for the first time."

Julia McKenzie, commissioning editor for comedy and entertainment for BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra, comments: "Chortle has been a champion of student comedy for an amazing 20 years now and I have always enjoyed going to watch the competition and seeing those emerging voices.

"I'm delighted to help shine a light on the award and finalists by broadcasting it to our listeners. for this first time."