In the quest to uncover the comedic talents of tomorrow, the highly anticipated 2023 BBC New Comedy Awards are back, set to grace the screens of BBC Three, BBC One, and BBC iPlayer this Autumn. Aspiring comedians are invited to submit their entries for a chance to be crowned this year’s winner and propel their careers to new heights.
The nationwide search is currently underway, scouring the UK for the freshest stand-up talents. Starting today at 10 am on Tuesday, May 30th, entries for the BBC New Comedy Awards are officially open. For more details, aspiring comedians can visit the official website at www.bbc.co.uk/newcomedyawards. Successful entrants will then face off in six regional heats, which will be televised on BBC Three and iPlayer in the coming autumn months. The culmination of this laughter-filled journey will be the highly anticipated Grand Final, broadcasted on BBC One and iPlayer.
Since its inception in 1995, the prestigious New Comedy Awards have acted as a launching pad for numerous beloved British comedians. Household names like Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Nina Conti, Russell Howard, Sindhu Vee, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican, Romesh Ranganathan, Josie Long, and Joe Lycett have all seen their careers flourish after their participation in this esteemed competition.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, stated, “BBC Comedy is devoted to discovering and nurturing new comedy talent across the UK, and the BBC New Comedy Awards have proven to be a successful avenue for unearthing the stand-up stars of the future. We eagerly anticipate unearthing fresh British comedy talent this year.”
Phil McIntyre Television, the production company responsible for the event, also expressed their delight in being part of the New Comedy Awards once again. They remain committed to showcasing emerging talents from all corners of the UK, ensuring that the televised regional heats reach under-represented areas throughout the country.
Dan Tiernan, the recipient of the 2022 BBC New Comedian Award, shared his life-changing experience, saying, “A year ago, I applied for the BBC New Comedy Award and ended up winning the whole thing. It’s completely changed my life, so many doors have opened up, and I’ve already had some absolutely incredible opportunities. If you’re considering applying but are unsure, honestly do it. You never know, it could be you this year!”
The winner of the BBC New Stand-Up Comedian Award will be rewarded with a paid commission to write and perform a 30-minute audio pilot, mentored by a BBC Comedy Commissioner. Additionally, the winner will receive a trophy and £1,000 in cash.
The regional heats for the 2023 awards are scheduled to take place in the following locations in September: Sunderland (North), Leith (Scotland), Ballymena (Northern Ireland), Bangor (Wales & West), Nottingham (Midland), and London suburbs (South).
Josh Pugh, a Midlands-based comedian and writer, will take on the role of Head Judge for this year’s competition. Josh, nominated for Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2022 for his show ‘Sausage, Egg, Josh Pugh Chips & Beans,’ is renowned for his viral hit videos, including ‘Inventing the four cheese pizza’ and ‘Piss up in a brewery.’ Joining him in each location will be different hosts and local panel judges, whose identities will be revealed in due course.
Interested participants still have ample time to apply for the BBC New Comedy Awards, as the closing date is Sunday, July 9th, at 23:59. To enter the competition or find further information, visit www.bbc.co.uk/newcomedyawards, where the terms and privacy notices can also be accessed.
For those who can’t get enough of the comedy extravagansa, the final and all six televised heats from the 2022 series are available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
The BBC New Comedy Award heats, consisting of six episodes lasting 30 minutes each, and the BBC Comedy Awards Final, a 45-minute spectacle, are produced by Phil McIntyre Television. The production was commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning at the BBC. Lindsay Jex serves as the producer for Phil McIntyre Television, with Lucy Ansbro taking on the role of Executive Producer. Navi Lamba acts as the Commissioning Editor for the BBC.
