In a near-empty Comedy Store

Izzy Askwith has won this year’s Funny Women stage award.

The stand-up - originally from Banbury, Oxfordshire, and now a Channel 4 production assistant in London - counts Sara Pascoe and American comic Nate Bargatze among her comedy heroes.

Manchester-based Eryn Tett was runner-up and  Londoner Mary O’Connell was third. Other finalists were Naomi Cooper, Katie Green, Ania Magliano, Fiona Ridgewell and  Christina O’Sullivan.

The final was held last night behind closed doors at the Comedy Store, London, hosted by Jayde Adams. It was the first gig to be held in the 40-year-old venue, post-lockdown, but had just the acts, production crew and judges in the room, with performances streamed online. Heats and semi-finals had been run virtually, too.

Funny Women founder  Lynne Parker said: ‘We are very proud to have run the competition throughout lockdown by taking our activity online. Women make a huge and valuable cultural contribution to the comedy industry and this year’s cohort of new talent has been no exception.'

Awards director Becky Singh added of the competitors: ‘The standard was very high and in the face of challenges, the level of dedication and willingness to embrace the new platforms, especially from our semi-finalists, has been truly inspiring.'

Winners of Funny Women awards for writing and short films  will be announced on October 7.

Published: 23 Sep 2020