Nine of the country's top up-and-coming comedians are preparing for Thursday's grand final of So You Think You're Funny? - the prestigious stand-up competition.

Compared by Jason Cook (who will soon be seen on TV in his new sitcom Hebburn), the final will decide who is crowned this year's SYTYF? winner. The competition is known for picking out future talent, with previous finalists including Peter Kay, Lee Mack David O'Doherty, Dylan Moran and Miles Jupp.

The competition, which is now sponsored by Foster's, features a £5,000 cash prize, and also the chance for the winner to perform at Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival.

The Gilded Balloon, the venue behind the competition, says: "Twenty-five years after So You Think You're Funny? began hunting for the country's best comedy newcomers, the competition is still fresh thanks to the high calibre of comedians it attracts. Aimed at discovering the stand-up stars of the future, it has established itself as one of the most prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe stand-up comedy competitions."

This year's search for the best comedy newcomer involved heats in Brighton, Bristol, Dublin, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sutton Coldfield, with a selected shortlist going through to perform at this year's Fringe heats. The comedians will have just eight minutes to impress the judging panel at this year's final.

This is how each of the nine finalists describe themselves:

Aisling Bea: Aisling Bea is an actress, stand-up and comedy writer originally from a place called "Ireland" (Google it). She now resides in London. She spends half her time in forests taking photos of butterflies and the other half ball breaking.

Ingrid Dahle: Ingrid Dahle is a Norwegian who has embraced the British humour, and now feels a part of it. She lives in Brighton where she has been part of the comedy scene for 1 year.

Nick Dixon: Nick Dixon's style is intelligent yet accessible, with a relaxed delivery that complements the sharpness of his writing. He won the famous King Gong show in May 2012.

Murdo Haggs: Always one to keep life easy Murdo wanted to try comedy, so he tried it.

Amir Khoshsokhan: Amir holds the torch to humour through timid whimsy, letting you into his sight of the world through his laughing coloured glasses. He's so whimsical he makes your local clown look like a politician.

Wayne Mazadza: Gently-spoken Edinburgh-based Zimbabwean new act barking with a mad set of disarmingly surreal gags. He loves vegetarians because then there's more meat for him.

Glenn Moore: Glenn Moore is a newsreader on the radio in Sheffield, and was a runner-up in another competition last year. He's delighted to be taking part in So You Think You're Funny?

Conor Neville: Conor Neville was born in September 1987 in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, Galway, Ireland at approximately one minute before lunch time. From there he has never looked back. He began doing stand-up comedy in late 2011. He also works as a journalist.

Jonathan Pelham: Johnny Pelham is a Masters student studying politics at Newcastle University. He was inspired to get into comedy by the need for self-validation and the possibility of chocolate, the chocolate never materialised, but he has found the whole experience blooming marvellous and hopes to continue.

The final of SYTYF? is on Thursday 23rd August at 8pm at the Gilded Balloon. Tickets are £15.