Hyperactive funnyman Andrew Maxwell won two successive Kings of Comedy crowns, but it wasn't enough to save the Dubliner from a head-to-head battle with Ava Vidal.

Only one will be saved for tonight's live show, so you'll have to tune into E4 at 9pm to find out which comic joins Boothby Graffoe, Stan Boardman and Mick Miller for the final.

After getting 10 points for a manic performance as "monkey boy" in front of an audience packed with kids between five and ten-years-old, it was a free-thinking routine that bagged Andrew 20 votes - three less than needed for his saviour.

The diminutive stand-up was on fine form though, thrusting through his material like a man on a mission.

"When you've got kids, you've no need for drugs," he insisted. "A three-year-old toddler is a trip in himself.

"How many times are you in a room when the other person is likely at any point to stand up and lick the tele?"

Boothby, who finished in second place, revealed his fear of flying.

"I'm not a good flier. I drive to the airport in a car that does 75-miles-an-hour. In an aeroplane, I get two bits of cloth and a belt.

"I'll be fine! Go on, reverse into a mountain!"

It was a hard night for Ava who has been bottom of the leaderboard this week, as her lack of experience showed.

Stan possibly surprised himself by picking up 11 votes from a young-ish crowd, although he did fall back on his Liverpudlian stereotype for comedic ammunition.

"I'm from Liverpool," he announced. "So your cars will all be okay while I'm up here."

As usual, situations got a little heated backstage after a tiring day performing.

"I'm not going head-to-head with a comic of 12-years experience," complained Ava to Boothby, before the nightly 'misunderstanding' took place.

Earlier Ava, looking in a dark mood, oddly informed Andrew she didn't like him, following a surreal conversation.

But the sensitive Irishman insisted his comrade was not joking as the pair spent the day in silence.

"She made no indication in any way she was joking, and she hasn't made eye contact with me since," he bemoaned, looking genuinely upset.

"There's such a thing as a f*****g apology man," Andrew continued.

And when Ava emerged from the back passage, the former Prison Officer was astonished her words had been taken seriously.

"Oh Jesus, are you serious?" she asked, looking extremely shocked.

"I talk s**t," she explained, concluding in a quick self-derogatory statement: "Since when do you listen to anything I say?"

The duo, who ironically will be going head-to-head, then joined bodies for a loving cuddle and the matter was, finally, dropped.

To see which of the couple makes it to the final countdown on Thursday, tune into E4 at 9pm. And there is also the small matter of who will be crowned King of Comedy...