The stand-up legend will lead the proceedings at this year’s celebration of the merchant industry’s achievements.

Comedian, actor and author Jo Brand has been announced as the host of this year’s edition of the Builders’ Merchants Awards, due to take place in London on 29 November.

Brand, whose appearance at the event is sponsored by Wilson Brook, has been a familiar name across television and radio for more than four decades since she exploded onto the comedy circuit in the 1980s.

The BAFTA-winning star of Getting On and Through The Cakehole has been hailed by The Mirror as ‘the best female comic in Britain.’ (She’s also been described as a ‘hideous old boiler’ by The Sun.) Despite several acting roles, she is still best known for stand-up.

Soon after leaving her job as a psychiatric nurse in the 80s, Brand’s profile began to grow. Her deadpan style attracted many an accolade - including Best Club Act at the British Comedy Awards. As one of the most distinctive figures in comedy and a leading light of the alternative comedy scene, Brand has since appeared on everything from QI to Countdown.

Her many other television appearances include Have I Got News For You (frequently hosting and guesting), This Week, Just For Laughs, and Comic Relief. On the radio Brand has graced everything from The Mary Whitehouse Experience to Just A Minute and Steve Wright in the Afternoon.

In addition to comedy, Jo has played the Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance, given an organ recital in the Royal Albert Hall, and written a number of novels and two volumes of autobiography.

The Builders’ Merchants Awards at the Park Plaza near Westminster Bridge in London will once again bring together more than 800 members of the industry in a glittering afternoon of networking, celebration and fun.

The industry’s longest running awards ceremony offers the perfect opportunity to acknowledge some of best among the amazing people, teams, projects and innovations the sector has to offer.

A judging panel made up of 16 prominent figures will choose the finalists among all the nominees, and those who will ultimately become the winners of the 24 awards up for grabs this year.

Book your table at www.merchants-awards.co.uk