Andrew McBurney wins Birmingham Breaking Talent Award

Andrew McBurney has been named as the recipient of the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2014.

McBurney was presented with his award by comedy star Jasper Carrott in front of a capacity crowd at Glee Club in Birmingham.

Though hailing from Glasgow, McBurney has spent the last 21 years in the Black Country. He currently lives in Halesowen and works for Black Country T-shirt makers, Teetshirts. Accepting his prize, Andrew simply said: "I'm buzzing."

The organisers explain: "Andrew's performance saw him recount the deeply traumatic departure of a girlfriend, before an unexpected and surprising change of character."

The Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2014 involved six local acts nominated by a team of established comedy professionals. Those putting forward the acts were Janice Connolly, Jo Enright, James Cook, Alex Jackson (The Glee Club booker) and Maureen Younger.

The acts taking part alongside McBurney were Northfield newcomer Lindsey Santoro, the deadpan Wayne Beese, Kingswinsford's Danny James Clives, actor turned comic Christopher John Hall, and Sutton Coldfield comedian and musician Hannah Silvester.

The judging panel consisted of BBCWM's Daz Hale, The Glee Club owner Mark Tughan, Birmingham Comedy Festival's Dave Freak, and Jasper Carrott.

A spokesperson for the festival said: "The judging panel were blown away by the level of professionalism of all the acts making the selection process tough, but the originality of Andrew's act was impressive. We wish Andrew, and his fellow contestants, all the best for the future."

Birmingham Comedy Festival 2014 launched on Friday 3rd October, and continues at venues across the city until Sunday 12th October. For full listings and more information, see: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk