The BBC’s big comedy talent search, the New Comedy Awards, has reached its climax. Over a thousand applied, more than 100 went head-to-head at showcases across the country, 30 battled it out in the regional heats, and now tonight, six finalists take to the stage in their bid to win over the judges and be crowned BBC New Comedian 2024.\n\nPresented by writer, comedian and former New Comedy Award winner Lucy Beaumont, the grand final is filmed in front of a full house at the iconic Alexandra Theatre in the heart of Birmingham. Head judge Babatunde Aléshé leads the panel making the hard choice of who will take this year’s title of Best New Comedian. Joining him is former finalist Shappi Khorsandi and last year’s head judge, Josh Pugh.\n\nThe grand final is a culmination of six regional heats filmed across the UK. The search began in Leicester, before visiting Pontypridd, Crofton Park, Belfast and Paisley, and ending in Lancaster. Taking to the stage for the final time in this talent search are Jonathan Oldfield, Maia Tassalini, Dane Buckley, Paul Hilleard, Jake Donaldson and Marty Gleeson. \n\nRounding off the night is a very special performance by last year’s winner, Joe Kent-Walters, as Frankie Monroe. Joe will also hand over the award to this year’s recipient. \n\nThe winner will receive a paid commission to write and perform their own 30-minute audio pilot under the mentorship of a BBC Comedy Commissioner, plus a trophy and £1,000. In addition, this year’s winner will get to perform live on the BBC as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day night of TV in March 2025 – a campaign which will also celebrate the charity's 40th anniversary.\n\nNow in its 29th year, the New Comedy Awards have helped launch the careers of many well-known comedy greats that regularly feature on our stages and screens, including Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Russell Howard, Romesh Ranganathan, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican, Josie Long and Joe Lycett. \n\nThe BBC New Comedy Awards is committed to taking the televised heats to often under-represented parts of the country and showcasing exciting new talent emerging from all corners of the UK.
Source: BBC 1
2024: 7. The Final
The BBC’s big comedy talent search, the New Comedy Awards, has reached its climax. Over a thousand applied, more than 100 went head-to-head at showcases across the country ...
13-11-2024
BBC 1
2024: 6. Northern Heat: Lancaster
Over a thousand applied. One hundred and twenty battled it out in regional showcases. Thirty made it through to the televised heats. In this episode, five cutting-edge comics ...
08-11-2024
BBC 1
2024: 5. Scotland: Paisley
The BBC’s big comedy talent search heads north to Scotland and the iconic Paisley Town Hall, which, following a multi-million-pound revamp, has been transformed into a wor ...
05-11-2024
BBC 1
2024: 4. Northern Irish Heat: Belfast
The BBC’s big comedy talent search heads to Northern Ireland and the capital, Belfast, where five hopefuls will battle it out to book their place in Birmingham for the gra ...
28-10-2024
BBC 1
2024: 3. Southern Heat: Crofton Park
We head to sunny south London and the remarkable Rivoli Ballrooms, a world-famous venue that’s dripping in original vintage décor. Designed by Henley Attwater in 19 ...
21-10-2024
BBC 1
2024: 2. Wales And West - Pontypridd
We’ve travelled to the heart of the south Wales valleys to Pontypridd and Y Muni, a multipurpose, fully accessible live music and comedy venue. Louie McLean, Suri Ashish, ...
21-10-2024
BBC 1
2024: 1. Midlands Heat: Leicester
Over a thousand applied. One hundred battled it out in regional showcases. Thirty made it through to the televised heats. Five budding comedians will perform, but only one can g ...
21-10-2024
BBC 1
2023: 7. The Final
The BBC’s foremost comedy talent search, The New Comedy Awards, has reached its climax. Over 1,000 applied, more than 100 went head-to-head at showcases across the country ...
15-11-2023
BBC 1
2023: Episode 6
The search for Britain's hottest new comedian has brought us to Bangor, the oldest city in Wales and one of the smallest cities in the UK. Our venue is Pontio Theatre, an ultra- ...
13-11-2023
BBC 1
2023: Episode 5
Five hopefuls will battle it out for a place in the BBC One Grand Final at Kings Theatre, Glasgow, where one will be crowned the BBC New Comedian of 2023.\n\nWe head to Nottingh ...
05-11-2023
BBC 1
2023: Episode 1
It’s been a bumper year for the BBC’s biggest comedy talent search, with over 1200 applying for the coveted title of BBC New Comedian 2023. In this episode, five hop ...
10-10-2023
BBC 1
2021: 5. Dundee
Five acts take to the stage in front of a packed house of more than a hundred at the Victorian Jute Mill in the heart of Dundee.\n\nScottish stand-up comedian, Larry Dean is at ...
02-11-2021
BBC 1
2021: 7. The Final
Six finalists take to the stage in their bid to win over the judges and be crowned the BBC New Comedian of 2021. Filmed in front of a full house at Newcastle’s historic Ty ...
05-11-2021
BBC 1
2021: 6. Portrush
Shane Todd presents from Portrush town hall. The Belfast born comedian, writer and radio presenter kicks off the night with a bit of local banter before bringing on the five act ...
03-11-2021
BBC 1
2022: Episode 2
From over 1,000 entries, 30 fresh new comedians have been selected from across the UK to battle it out over a series of six heats to secure their place in the grand final of the ...
06-10-2022
BBC 1
2023: Episode 2
The BBC New Comedy Awards is a nationwide talent search to find the best new stand-ups. Since they first began in 1995, the prestigious awards have helped launch the careers of ...
17-10-2023
BBC 1
2023: Episode 3
The BBC’s big comedy talent search, the New Comedy Awards, is scouring the country to uncover the hottest new stand-ups. We head to Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ir ...
24-10-2023
BBC 1
2021: 2. Wolverhampton
Tonight's heat comes from Light House, a cinema, gallery and media hub for Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas. Darren Harriott is our host for the evening, and the five hop ...
20-10-2021
BBC 1
2023: Episode 4
From over a thousand entries, 30 fresh new comedians have been selected from across the UK to battle it out over a series of six heats to secure their place in the grand final o ...
30-10-2023
BBC 1
2022: Episode 1
Nationwide search to find the best new stand-up talent in the UK.
29-09-2022
BBC 1