The smile.co.uk Comedy Awards for the North West were presented to the winners at the weekend during a huge, "star-studded" gala held at the Hotel Piccadilly in Manchester. The event was presented by comedian cum soap actor Bradley Walsh and was the climax of the Manchester Comedy Festival.

Amongst the guests were a plethora of actors from Coronation Street and Hollyoaks who scrubbed up for the black-tie do alongside Johnny Vegas and Dave Spikey. The celebrations continued through the night into the early hours of the morning.

The ceremony was in recognition of the immeasurable wealth of comic talent the region has nurtured and honoured a multitude of comedy resources including the well established and breakthrough acts.

Johnny Vegas was presented with The Les Dawson Award for Services to Comedy by Dawson's widow. Vegas had been suggested to play Dawson in a planned BBC film and has received many comparisons in the past to the comedy legend.

Vegas said, "Les is the only comic I’ve been compared with and been happy with the comparison, so it’s a real compliment."

The other awards and winners were:

Best Breakthrough in Comedy - Keith Carter 
Best Stand Up on the North West Circuit  - Alan Carr
Best Touring Comedy Production/Show - Rob Brydon
Best Comedic Performance on Film and TV  - Early Doors (entire cast)
Best Comedic Writing  - Craig Cash & Phil Mealey (Early Doors)
Best Comedy Club - XS Malarkey
Best Comedy Content in a Radio Show  -Lee Mack (The Lee Mack Show)
Best Comedic Performance in Soap - Alex Carter, who plays Lee Hunter in Hollyoaks.