Heat Eight - London, 2014

You can catch the eighth heat of the BBC Radio New Comedy Award 2014 on Friday 31st October at 10.30pm on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Here's some more information about the comedians performing in this heat:

Gareth Brand is from the small village of Colwinston in South Wales. He is the finest stand-up comedian they have ever produced. He is also better than most of the comedians in neighbouring Corntown.

Twitter: @garethbrand

33 year old American, 5’6” with semi athletic build; he likes going out as well as a quiet night cuddling under a duvet. Luke also enjoys doing stand-up comedy. Previous jobs include six years in the US military, being a badass handy man and has raised two kids (that’s more of a hobby though).

Twitter: @lukecapasso

“Hello BBC, I’m Joshua Sadler. That is me. I entered because I flipping love being judged by a room of people but that has stopped daunting me so I wanted to be judged by a wider audience, on air… also it’s for the BBC.”

“I've been doing stand-up comedy for about two years now, mainly in Brighton, with the occasional foray further afield. When the ad came out for the BBC competition I thought that looked well worth the train fare- and I'm looking forward to giving it a go.”

“Hi. I’m Sofie. I am 25 years old and I moved to your lovely country two years ago to do stand-up comedy. I entered the BBC New Comedy Award competition because winning it would be the first step towards slowly but surely taking over your country and making it Denmarkcountry.“

Twitter: @SofieHagen

“I began musical stand-up comedy to combine the 2 loves of my life - music and standing in front of strangers looking afraid. I have entered the competition so I can show the maximum amount of people how rubbish I am at the guitar.”

Twitter: @JmacMachine

“Great to be a part of the BBC New Comedy Awards this year. I get to gig in the big smoke too, so will make a day of it probably push the boat out and send my parents a postcard in the shape of the Queen's head while I'm there.”

Twitter: @kiripritchardmc

Tom Toal is a comedian, writer and actor from Bexleyheath. Having watched comedy from a young age Tom can’t see himself doing anything else. Having had great success in previous years at the Edinburgh Festival, this year he performed his first full hour show, ‘Prequel’.

Twitter: @TomToal

“Comedy is my love, my passion, my wife (and mistress)....I leave my phone on for her at night in case she calls. This competition is where dreams are made...where me, the wife and the audience share The Moment and it's all understood .”

Twitter: @tomwardvoice

“Hello! My name is Hari, and I’m a part-time comedian/writer. I’m also a full-time software developer, which is great for my other hobby: killing every conversation. I’m entering the BBC New Comedy Award because I love performing comedy, and — like most comedians — I thrive on external validation.”

Twitter: @harisriskantha