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Patrick Kielty hosts the Grand Final of the 麻豆约拍 New Comedy Award 2012 - Radio 2's nationwide search to find the UK's comedy stars of the future - live from The Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

The 麻豆约拍 New Comedy Award 2012 is searching the country to find the next big comedy stars to join the likes of previous finalists Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Sarah Millican, Marcus Brigstocke, Russell Howard and Rhod Gilbert.

800 acts entered. 80 acts competed in eight regional heats held across the country. Twelve were chosen - two by an audience vote - to perform in the Semi-Finals in London and Newcastle, where just six acts were put through to the final stage by our panel of comedy judges.

Tonight, live on Radio 2 and 麻豆约拍 Red Button, those final six acts go head to head to battle it out in the hope of being crowned winner of the 麻豆约拍 Radio 2 New Comedy Award 2012 with a prize of 拢1,000 and a commission with 麻豆约拍 Radio Comedy. And their fate is in your hands as we ask you to vote for your favourite online and by SMS.

The dazzlingly charming Irish funnyman Patrick Kielty is our host for the evening, with an esteemed comedy panel, including comic dynamite Stephen K Amos, offering feedback before we hand over to the public to cast the final vote.