By Alex Dawson

It's lovely to see an established comedian in full flow. Someone like Jimmy Carr for instance: "Is it fair to say that there'd be less litter in Britain if blind people were given pointed sticks?''

But sometimes you don't want a safe pair of hands (or the safe pair of hands is sold out, because you've not booked when you said you would).

Sometimes you want something altogether newer, edgier and more dangerous – a sweaty pair of hands, if you will.

So if you're after the MTV2 of comedy, rather than Radio Two, where do you go?

The Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition, we suggest. Yes, we're a bit biased, but bear with us.

Now in its 16th controversial year, it's considered one of Britain's best shows for discovering new comedy talent.

It's a tough gig. Even Jimmy Carr only came second, after incorporating some out-of-place rap into his 2001 act. He later dropped the rap.

It's a dead funny, dead serious competition, where the winner gets a prestigious title on their CV and a very decent prize – £1,000 for 10 minutes' work.

Johnny Vegas, winner in 1997, later described his Leicester Mercury award as "fantastic".

"It was the only thing I'd ever won, at the time," he said. "It's an award that opens doors."

So who won all those other years? Did doors open?

Glad you asked, because we've got a potted history of all 15 winners so far below and, frankly, it took a while to locate the Stevie Knuckles picture, even in our own library.

You'll be surprised at some of the names. Unless, like me, you're a bit of a regular.

1995: Stevie Knuckles

Ah. Drat. This hasn't started very well. The manic Mr Knuckles, debut winner of this prize, has disappeared from the comedy circuit. And, apparently, from the land of the living.

If anyone knows his whereabouts?

The only Stevie Knuckles we could find on the internet is in a Satanic band in Kentucky, USA. Don't suppose it's him though.

1996: Jo Enright

Teeny weeny Jo (4ft 10in with castors for feet) was the big winner this year, with her subtle, skillful character comedy.

She's still very busy, still a TV regular, and still only 4ft 10in.

Jo fact: She was a member of the legendary 2 Up 2 Down on Peter Kay's spoof talent show Britain's Got The Pop Factor.

1997: Johnny Vegas

Yes, of course THE Johnny Vegas. We're telling you, this is a nationally important talent show. In Leicester.

Vegas won with an act involving self-loathing and pottery that was declared "raucous" and "confrontational" by the Mercury. Crikey.

Since then, his credits have ranged from sitcom Ideal to Dickens adaptation Bleak House. He was in the 2004 film The Libertine with Johnny Depp. Crikey again.

1998: Mitch Benn

The big man with the small guitar and the comedy songs, stormed the 1998 show like a harmless Viking.

He's now a comedy circuit regular and a star of Radio 4's Now Show, Radio 2's It's Been A Bad Week and his own Radio 4 show Crimes Against Music, which he performs with regular backing band The Distractions.

1999: Patrick Kitterick

Now here's a bit of a weird one. Local lad Patrick won with an act full of local references – like why DID Leicester City Council put traffic-slowing measures in a red light district?

So what is he doing now? He's Councillor Patrick Kitterick, a member of Leicester City Council's cabinet, with responsibilities that include traffic-slowing measures.

Thereby proving some councillors have got a sense of humour. Or some councillors really ARE comedians.

2000: Jason Manford

Now a TV regular on Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Jason won in Leicester as an 18-year-old in only his 14th live performance.

In 2006 he won an award from the comedy website Chortle for "best breakthrough act".

Yep, "best breakthrough", six whole years after we spotted him in Leicester. That's how cutting-edge we are.

2001: Miles Jupp

Ah, now this was the posh comedian who, on the night, was funnier than Jimmy Carr.

Here's a killer line we remember from his rambling, bumbling act: "Ah what a pleasure to see all you, um, lovely Leicester ladies. You see, I'm single and I'm looking for, um, a cleaner.''

Now a stalwart of children's TV series Balamory, but still a stand-up, too.

2002: Matt Blaize

Trained as a classical actor at the Drama Centre, London, before turning to stand-up.

"With the facial contortions of Bill Cosby, his politically orientated act was funny and well observed" said the Mercury.

Well, he's still busy, still political, still funny.

2003: Rhod Gilbert

The surreal Welsh comedian's career has enjoyed a meteoric rise since he won in Leicester.

He's made appearances on BBC One's Live at the Apollo and Mock The Week and was a triumph at the 80th Royal Variety Performance last year, in front of the Prince of Wales.

"In the Bible, God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. That's a pretty good summer for us in Wales. That's a hosepipe ban waiting to happen.''

2004: Matthew Hollins

A home victory for a Leicester lad, albeit one who looks like the undertaker nephew of Adrian Chiles.

Deadpan former biscuit packer Matt talks in an unsmiling near monotone about his absurdly mundane city life, with an act that ruminates on topics ranging from Liam Gallagher to the politics of office cake.

A genuine original.

2005: Debra-Jane Appelby

Debra-Jane was born a man. We know, because she matter-of-factly told a Mercury reporter after winning this show.

But the sex-change bombshell plays no part in her act and the Leicester audience simply warmed to a blunt, sarcastic Yorkshire lass, with echoes of the Northern club circuit.

Has since won the national Funny Women competition.

2006: James Branch

By day, Slough's James edited movie trailers and TV commercials and did voiceover work.

But one February night in Leicester in 2006, his stand-up career really took off.

Strong material was helped by a brilliant delivery. "What I've got to do now is work like hell to capitalise on this," he admitted.

2007: Carl Donnelly

Bad news for Wimbledon branch colleagues of "Carl in Finance" – your man won the award. He immediately vowed to "quit the day job – the sooner the better''.

Comedy website Chortle says: "It's impossible not to warm to this self-deprecating, idiosyncratic slacker who, on the edge of death after a heavy drinking incident, laments never having been in a motorbike pyramid."

2008: Henry Paker

Cartoonist Henry Paker had all the best lines (see what we did there?) at the 2007 show.

He impressed judges and audience with a cardigan-clad stand-up act, with shades of Harry Hill, Leonard Rossiter and whoever that woman was who did that punctuation book.

Afterwards a properly delighted Paker said: "This is such a boost for the confidence, close quote, full stop."

2009: Seann Walsh

A self-confessed Brighton slacker gets his best payday.

"Um, I've never won anything before'' said a slightly bemused Walsh. "Thank you very much."

His act contained some excellent gags, including a jibe against the all-powerful Nintendo Wii.

"If I'm going to play a computer game" said the 30-a-day smoker, "I don't want to get a stitch."

Info

The Mercury Comedian of the Year is part of Leicester Comedy Festival, which runs from Friday to February 21.

The Mercury show is on Saturday, February 20, at the Y Theatre, Leicester, at 7.30pm.

For tickets at £14 (£12) ring 0116 255 7066.