Leicester has had a comedy festival since 1994 (see here) and Jimmy has featured, in some way or other, several times.

As a part of the festival there is a competition for the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year (the award name came from a local paper that sponsored the award for 30 years). The competition was started in 1995 and there is a history of it here.

In 2001 the festival ran from February 8^th to 17^th but the actual date of the comedy competition is not something that I can find (despite a lot of searching).

Currently the only gig, of Jimmy’s, that I can identify, for 2001, was the entrance performance(s) for this award, performed at the Y Theatre. Referenced in the press, but date(s) not specified.

Amongst the 2001 final 8 were:

• Miles Jupp – Winner
• Jimmy Carr
• John Ryan
• Patrick Monahan
• Dougie Dunlop

Chortle identified the first three names, above, as finalists in this listing of the award winners up to 2021.

Jimmy may not have won but he certainly made an impression as it seems to have gone down in folklore that he had “performed a rap”. That had to be something to see!!

In the British Newspaper Archive an Edinburgh News article (on February 20^th) reported that “Edinburgh University Divinity student, Miles Jupp” had won the competition and been awarded £500.

There had been 8 acts entered and they were either nominated by a leading UK comedy club or had been selected from 1 of the 2 talent nights, held earlier in the festival.

The article mentioned that Jimmy was a regular on E4’s 11 O’clock Show (see here).

This was clearly the first ever meeting, of Miles and Jimmy, as Miles described him as a “terribly polite chap” that had congratulated him as he came off stage.

For a round up of where else Jimmy was gigging in 2001 – see here.