Jack Heal, a student at the University of Warwick, has been selected to compete in the Chortle Student Comedian of the Year Competition.

Jack, 21, who is currently completing his finals for a maths degree, beat out more than 100 competitors in a heat held in Coventry. He will now be competing for the title of Funniest Student of the Year against the twelve winners of the other heats, at the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In addition to the competition Jack will also be writing and performing on the stage as a member of the Warwick University Comedy Group.

The student has only been performing stand-up since starting University and with just seven gigs under his belt, is relatively inexperienced; which makes his success even more impressive.

The Chortle Student Comedian of the Year is a national search to find the ‘funniest student’, run by the comedy website Chortle. Heats take place in the spring term and the event is open to students aged 18 or over enrolled in tertiary education at any UK University. The winner will take home £1,000 and the runner-up £200.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: This competition is now in its fifth year, and we’ve uncovered some great student talent in that time. For the comedians, the contest not only offers a cash prize, but a great chance to be seen by the movers and shakers of the comedy industry. Who knows where it could lead.

The 2005 winner, Nathan Caton, has recently had his own sketch show on Paramount Comedy.

As for Jack, he says: I’m honestly not sure yet. It’s fun but I haven’t decided what I want to do for a career.