Bauer takes Chortle student crown

Rio Bauer has become the first woman to win the Chortle Student Comedy Award.

The 20-year-old from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, impressed a panel of industry judges at the Edinburgh Fringe with a surreal set, substantially about helpful ghosts.

A first year TV and radio production student at Salford university, Bauer had only done five gigs before taking part in an audition for the award. She says she is influenced by American comics Dan Mintz and Tim Heidecker.

She takes away a £2,000 prize – thanks to sponsors ALCATEL ONE TOUCH and Universal Pictures (UK) – as well as the kudos of following in the footsteps of previous winners including Joe Lycett, Lloyd Langford and Tom Deacon.

The £500 runners-up prize was split between Nathan Willcock, and Adam Todd as the panel couldn’t separate them.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: ‘It was a really diverse bill tonight, with all manner of comedy styles being executed with skill and originality, making it tough to choose a winner.

‘Rio is an original voice, and simply made the judges laugh more than anyone else; while Todd hides perfect control behind his mild-mannered vulnerability, and Willcock is a slick and silly joke writer with a well-constructed set.’

The other finalists were Conor Neville, Tim Renkow, Evelyn Mok, Matilda Wnek and Richard Perry. The final was hosted by Mark Watson – making a rare appearance at this year’s Fringe – and featured a set from 2012 winner Kwame Asante.

Click here to to read a review of the show, and Bauer's winning set is below:

Published: 13 Aug 2013