King claims Crooked Smile comedy crown

The laboratory technician’s winning formula of homespun anecdotes and accessible humour earned him the Crooked Smile award in Chesterfield last night (Thursday).

Tom, 38, said: “It is a brilliant feeling getting such a good response from the audience. The Winding Wheel is a lovely place - it’s the third time I have performed here.”

The bearded champion lifted the title by a whisker with just one point separating him from the runner-up, Geordie gagster John Whale.

Comedy king Tom triumphed over nine rivals for the throne with jokes inspired by his job at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital including medical notes to the lab, sample jars and how the inside of a leg looks like Bakewell pudding.

It’s his second success this year, having claimed the Urban Comedian of the Year award in Manchester.

Tom, whose parents Chris and Carole live in Dronfield Woodhouse, took up comedy 18 months ago after enrolling at a workshop in Sheffield. “Comedy is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “When I was a kid I used to make my friends laugh. I used to make my Mum laugh all the time by mimicking people I met in shops or in the street.

“I would love to do it full time - I’ll keep plugging away.”

In his victory speech, Tom, who has made his home in Sheffield, said his £100 prize money would last him ages. “I’ll be able to do Aldi shopping for the next six months,” he quipped.

Jared Shooter was the top-placed Chesterfield, beating off challengers Barrie Fox and John Seels.