The BBC New Comedy Award first took place in 1995, and it is considered to be one of the top UK comedy newcomer awards.
It was axed in 2006, being replaced by a nationwide talent hunt that places its emphasis on sketch writing and filmed performance. However, in March 2011 the BBC Radio New Comedy Award was relaunched in conjunction with BBC Radio 2, and ran as a joint project between Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 Extra. The arrangement was for Radio 4 Extra to broadcast the heats and semi-finals of the contest, whilst Radio 2 (later Radio 4) broadcasts the live final. The 2021 series moved online to BBC Three, with a repeat broadcast on BBC One. By the 2022 contest, BBC Three had returned to terrestrial TV, so the heats were aired on that channel and the final aired on BBC One.
Winners & finalists The finals of this event have boasted many well known names that have continued to work in comedy to great acclaim - amongst the winners of the award are: Julian Barratt (1995), Marcus Brigstocke (1996), Paul Foot (1997), Josie Long (1999), Alan Carr (2001), Nina Conti (2002), Rhod Gilbert (2003), Angela Barnes (2011) and Lost Voice Guy (2014). Other notable finalists include Peter Kay, Bennett Arron, Lee Mack, Russell Howard, Daniel Kitson, Justin Lee Collins, David O'Doherty, Shappi Khorsandi, Joe Lycett and Sarah Millican.
Year Winner Finalists 1995 Julian Barratt Daniel KitsonSilkyLee MackAmbrose MartoseViv GeeJeff Mirza 1996 Marcus BrigstockeJenny Ross Chris AddisonAlan DoyleAddy Van Der BorghNeil BromleyMarian KilpatrickBob May 1997 Paul Foot Bennett ArronJustin Lee CollinsCraig CrookstonNeil AnthonyGareth HughesPeter KayDeirdre O'Kane 1998 Dan Antopolski Mary BourkeTony CoffeyRhodri CrooksDanny OakesDan TetsellHelen PilcherCaroline Quinlan 1999 Josie Long David O'DohertyMarc SmallMatthew WaltersScott PragnellColin WardSteve Harris 2000 Jason John Whitehead Anthony J BrownAngie McEvoyShappi KhorsandiPaddy BramwellsBilly DufusAlan HulcoopDes McLean 2001 Alan Carr Marcus BirdmanKeith Carter (as "Nige")Jarred ChristmasMichael DowneyDes ClarkeRob DeeringRussell HowardJustin Moorhouse 2002 Nina Conti DylanBob KobePaul KerensaGary DelaneyStefano PaoliniNinia BenjaminKarl Spain 2003 Rhod Gilbert Michael AndersonGreg Cook (runner-up)Steve Hall (runner-up)Ava Vidal"Lloydy the illegal street trader" 2004 Andrew Lawrence Liam MulloneDavid NichollsJarlath ReganJames Sherwood (runner-up)Danielle Ward (runner-up) 2005 Tom Allen Edward Aczel (runner-up)James BranchAaron CounterSarah Millican (runner-up)John-Luke Roberts 2011 Angela Barnes Pat CahillTez IlyasJoe LycettMark RestucciaChris Turner 2012 Lucy Beaumont Pete OtwaySunil PatelMatt ReesTommy RowsonMatthew Winning 2013 Steve Bugeja Jonny PelhamEan LuckhurstMark SilcoxPeter BrushRob Carter 2014 Lost Voice Guy Hari SriskanthaThomas WardTom LittleAmir KhoshokhanBrennan Reece 2015 Yuriko Kotani Russ PeersAthena KugblenuMichael StranneyKen ChengAndy Storey 2016 Jethro Bradley Catherine BohartGeorge LewisMichael OdewaleLauren PattisonSindhu Vee 2017 Heidi Regan Andy FieldMorgan ReesJacob HawleyAaron SimmondsSikisa 2018 Stephen Buchanan Helen BauerIsa BonacheraMamoun ElagabSarah MannWilliam Stone 2019 Janine Harouni Mo OmarJosh JonesDonald AlexanderHannah Platt 2021 Anna Thomas Lily PhillipsCelya ABLiam FarrellyMolly McGuinnessWilliam Thompson 2022 Dan TiernanDee AllumOmar BadawayRobbie McShaneMarjolein RobertsonJoshua Bethania 2023 Joe Kent-Walters (as Frankie Monroe)Hester Ectomy Jin Hao Li Chantel Nash Dean T Beirne Paddy Young 2024 Paul HilleardMarty Gleeson Jake Donaldson Dane Buckley Maia Tassalini Jonathan Oldfield 2025 Eli HartAyo Adenekan Jess Carrivick Shugufta Choudhry Evaldas Karosas Pravanya Pillay.
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