A 15-year-old boy is set to take centre stage tonight as Blackburn’s new comedy festival gets underway.

Lewis Costello, of Wilpshire, will perform a quick-fire routine at King George’s Hall for the start of You Must Be Joking, which will feature stars such as Paddy McGuinness, Jimmy Carr and Ken Dodd over the next month.

Lewis contacted King George’s Hall bosses and sent them a video of a comedy routine.

They said he came across as a ‘keen and passionate aspiring comedian’, so they gave him a chance to perform.

The Our Lady and St John High School pupil will appear before the sell-out Frog and Bucket Comedy Club show.

He said: “I always have the fear of hecklers. I’ve never had one yet, but I’m prepared.”

Lewis said his routine was influenced by the likes of Jimmy Carr, Lee Mack, Peter Kay and Chris Rock, and added: “There will be one-liners, a bit of chatting, some observational stuff.

"I tend to pick up on little quirks that people in my family do and exaggerate them.”

He said his passion for stand-up arose thanks to some quick thinking: “I started out doing a magic show at Butlins, but it went a bit cock-eyed and I had to use some comedy to keep the audience with me.

“My Mum thinks it’s a bit mental. She thinks I need a trade to fall back on, but I think comedy is a good career.

“I’m going to do an A-Level in English language which looks at stand-up so that I can see how and why words are funny.

“This is the biggest thing I’ve done, but I’m very excited.”

Dad Andrew said: “It takes courage to get up in front of a lot of people on a Friday night.

“We will always support him in what he wants to do as long as he does well at school, college and university.”

A spokesperson for King Georges Hall said: “We thought it would be worthwhile letting him have a short slot seeing as he is a local lad who has taken the time to inquire.

"He will be getting advice from professional comedians and hopefully it will give him a leg up. ”