She only stepped onto the comedy circuit 18 months ago, and now the well-known Bolton face is officially the Queen of Comedy.

Maura Jackson's hilarious take on disastrous dating had the audience in stitches in Southport ­— and her outstanding performance won her the regal title, as voted by the audience, as she competed against seven other female comics across the UK.

Maura is the CEO of Backup North West which helps young people who are homeless or at risk of being so.

The Bolton News: Maura Jackson

But at night she takes to the stage and has been doing stand-up comedy now for 18 months, with her shows regularly selling out, including at The Octagon Theatre and Spice Valley in Horwich, which brings in the crowds with its comedy nights.

Maura has recently done a gig at the very first Lancaster Comedy Fest and she is also performing in Sheffield, Southport, Westhoughton and Bradford during May.

The Bolton News: Maura Jackson

She is also hosting Bolton Pride on the main stage on Saturday, May 25, which she says she is very excited about.

Maura said: “What’s not to love about being main stage on Bolton Town Hall Square? I am Bolton born and bred and support everything Pride stands for plus it will an amazing weekend of fun.”

The next comedy night Maura is running is at Spice Valley restaurant where a two course meal is provided along with a hilarious line up with other superb comedians; Jack Miller and Matt Jones from Liverpool, Josh Sedman and Eddy Midgley from Yorkshire and Tino Giacatto from Italy, who now lives in Hull, as well as the Queen herself is on the May 16. Link for tickets is https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DHYI

The Bolton News: Maura Jackson

Maura whose working alias is The Feather Fixer is also putting on a free open mic comedy night on Saturday, May 18th in The Definitely Maybe Green Room Lounge on Nelson Square.

This is free, and comedy lovers can watch 12 comics deliver/practice sets.

Those performing are among the best emerging and current comedians.

There are no other open mic comedy nights in Bolton and these are what comics use to practice and develop their best stuff.

People can just turn up there to see people perform.

It starts at 5pm and the bar is open from 4pm.

Maura said if it goes well it could be a monthly feature ­— and attracting comics from all over the UK to come to perform in Bolton.