Breakthrough nomination for Gilbert

The Welsh stand-up has been chosen to represent comedy against nominees from nine other art forms, with the winner chosen by readers of The Times newspaper.

Others shortlisted include theatre director Robert Goold, Andrea Riseborough who portrayed a young Margaret Thatcher on TV, and classical composer Anna Meredith.

Author Rose Heiney – who was briefly a stand-up and took part in the 2004 So You Think You’re Funny? new act final – was nominated for literature.

The shortlist for the main South Bank Show comedy award was announced last month, with Gavin and Stacey, series two of BBC Three comedy Pulling and Michael McIntyre’s stand-up all in the running.

Now Times comedy critic Dominic Maxwell has nominated 40-year-old Gilbert on the strength of his hit Edinburgh show Rhod Gilbert and the Award-Winning Mince Pie.

He said Gilbert found his voice with the hour-long rant about a visit to a service station, adding: ‘The silliness of service culture had never been so palpable. He was both utterly enraged and utterly relaxed about it.’

The winners of all the awards will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Melvyn Bragg in London on January 20.

Polls are open from now until January 14, and registered users of the Times website can vote here.

Published: 6 Jan 2009