Entries now open

The BBC has launched its annual hunt for new stand-up talent.

Entries are now open for the BBC Radio New Comedy Award after it was launched on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show this afternoon.

The competition, which first started in 1995, has featured Rhod Gilbert, Josie Long, Peter Kay, Alan Carr, Nina Conti, Sarah Millican and Russell Howard among its past finalists. It took a break from 2005 before being revived in 2011, when it was won by Angela Barnes.

This year's winner will receive £1,000 and development support from the BBC Radio Comedy department; with advice, guidance and the chance to appear in slots across the BBC.

Entrants, who must have been performing for five years or less, need to submit a five-to-seven minute comedy routine at bbc.co.uk/newcomedyaward before Thursday July 9.

This year the competition has been expanded to include sketch, character and musical comedy acts, too.

The 80 best entries will be selected for eight regional heats in August and September, which will air on Radio 4 Extra. Clips of the winners will also be played on Steve Wright's show on Radio 2 each Friday in the build-up to the live final which is aired on Radio 2 in November.

The judges at each heat are BBC comedy executive producer Sam Bryant, and Chortle editor Steve Bennett, plus an expert judge from within the comedy industry. But in the final, the ultimate winner will be chosen by Radio 2 listeners.

Last year's winner Lee Ridley, also known as Lost Voice Guy, pictured, said: 'Winning the BBC New Comedy Award was such a great experience. I simply couldn't believe it when they read out my name as the winner. It meant a lot to know that both the industry and general public thought I was that good, especially when you look at previous winners.

'Winning the award has definitely opened up lots of opportunities for me. In fact, it gave me the push that I needed to quit my proper job and take up stand-up comedy full time. I've got a lot more gigs because of it, landed a couple of roles in television projects and, of course, I've got the amazing chance to write some for BBC Radio. I have the award to thank for most of that.'

Lewis Carnie, head of programming for Radio 2, said: 'Radio 2 has long championed new talent on the network and this award is a great way of us finding new comedy across the UK. Not many competitions end up with a performance on the most-listened to radio station in the UK.'

Sioned Wiliam, commissioning editor for comedy on Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra said: 'It is very exciting to once more throw open our doors for anyone to show us their comedy routines. This competition has such a fantastic track-record of finding future comedy stars and we will be proud to say that you heard them first on the BBC.’

The heats take place at the BBC Potterow venue in Edinburgh on August 25 and 27, Bath Komedia on September 8 and 9, Up The Creek in Greenwich, South London, on September 15 and 16; and the Birmingham Glee Club on September 22 and 23.

Published: 16 Jun 2015