Carr's contest ' offers a helping hand'

The producer of Jimmy Carr’s next stand-up DVD has defended a Comedy Idol talent hunt that will be included on the disc.

Rachel Springett is on the lookout for comic hopefuls to take part in open auditions, with eight appearing at a semi-final at London’s Comedy Store – and the winner appearing on stage with Carr at one his Bloomsbury Theatre gigs next month.

Although the competition does not offer any prize money, she points out that the eight finalists will get invaluable tips from Carr – as well as a team of comedy writers who will be giving the semi-finalists an afternoon’s workshop before their show.

And she insists the motives behind the hunt, to be included as an extra on the DVD, are worthy ones.

She said: ‘Because his humour is so quick and cutting, Jimmy’s got something of a reputation as being cynical.

‘But he genuinely wants to give people starting out in stand-up a helping hand. After all, he was there himself not so long ago.’

She said the aim was not to ridicule no-hope acts, as in Pop Idol, but to encourage those with potential and ‘show Jimmy as a nice person… to make him look more human.’

Anyone interested in taking part in Jimmy Carr’s Comedy Idol should contact Auditions@bwark.com

Published: 27 Jun 2005