Dane Buckley hosts the contest at Mandela Hall, Belfast, where five comics compete in the last of six knockout heats to bag their place in the grand final. Award-winning comedian and podcaster Alison Spittle and former NCA finalist William Thompson join head judge Fatiha El-Ghorri to assess the potential of contenders Eoghan Collins, Pravanya Pillay, Vinny Shiu, Lianna Holston and Jim Midge