Contestants included various comedy acts (often stand-up comics and character performers but also improvisers, duos, musicians and sketch troupes).
A jury of comedy professionals would choose five finalists from a larger field of entrants/contestants to perform in the televised showcase.
The event was considered a training ground for relatively young comics, providing them national exposure for their talent.
Past winners have included Gavin Crawford, Nathan Fielder, Ron Sparks, Katie Crown and Fraser Young.
To avoid this in the future, a new rule was made giving a tie-breaking vote to comedian Lindsay Leese, widow of Tim Sims and founder of the TSEF.