Marc Smethurst named Tyne & Wear New Act of the Year

Marc Smethurst has won the first Tyne & Wear New Act of the Year competition.

Smethurst, a Newcastle University student who is actually from Birkenhead, Merseyside, bagged the £100 cash prize at a show in Newcastle last night. He also wins paid gigs from The Grinning Idiot in 2013.

Speaking to Giggle Beats, Smethurst  said: “It wasn’t the best night I’ve seen at The Dog and Parrot [home to Long Live Comedy, who organised the competition], but I’m happy to have won.

“I’m usually always the runner up and never the bride, so it makes a change…”

Comedian Lee Kyle, who helped organise the night, added: “Marc was a deserving winner. He’s a very polished act for someone of his experience level and manages to combine being inventive with being relatable.

“There were other strong acts, but he stood out.”

Musical acts Stephen ‘Friz’ Frizzle and Nat Wicks finished second and third respectively.

Here’s a clip of Smethurst in action: