Talent hunt names two winners

The Melbourne Comedy Festival's new act hunt has named two winners for the first time in its history.

Nelly Thomas and Steve Sheehan will both be heading for the Edinburgh festival after scooping the Raw Comedy 2003 final last night.

But they will have to decide for themselves if they want to stage a show there - as their prize is just the flight.

A record 783 participants took part in Raw heats across Australia, with the top 15 selected from state finals to perform at the festival.

Judges on the night were festival director Susan Provan, former Perrier winner Simon Fanshawe, Karen Koren from Edinburgh's Gilded Ballon, a comedy producer from Australia's ABC Radio and local comic Dave O'Neill.

Provan said: "Stand-up comedy is the most challenging, terrifying and exhilarating performance artform, especially for newcomers. We admire and applaud their courage.

"Whether they entered Raw comedy for fun, as a dare, to fulfil a dream or to face a fear the standard of this year's competition was superb.

"It was at such a high level that not one, but two outstanding performers have been selected to travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this year. We look forward to seeing Nelly and Steve develop as comedians over the coming years."

Highlights of the competition, which has run since 1996, will be aired on ABC television.

Full review of the night

Published: 14 Apr 2003