At the Leicester Comedy Festival Awards

Stewart Lee was named ‘legend of comedy’ at the Leicester Comedy Festival Awards last night.

In taking the accolad, he follows in the footsteps of Jo Brand, Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Rik Mayall, Nicholas Parsons, Ken Dodd and Sir Norman Wisdom. 

Founding director Geoff Rowe, said: 'It was such an honour for Stewart Lee to attend the ceremony and accept the Legend of Comedy award.  He has made a significant contribution to British comedy and also helped support and encourage new talent throughout his career.’

Other winners included Troy Hawke for best show, Marcel Lucont for best kids' show and Ania Magliano for best new show.

The Big Difference, the venue formerly known as The Cookie and run by the registered charity behind the festival itself, was named best new venue.  

The full list of winners is:

Best Show – Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy’d 

Best New Show – Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not 

Best Kids Show – Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles 

Best Online Event – Marvel versus Marvel: The Live Podcast 

Best Impro/Music Show – Jon Pearson: What You Been Up To 

Best Large Venue – The Y Theatre

Best Small Venue – The Black Horse 

Best New Venue – The Big Difference

Best Promoter  – Monster Comedy 

Liberty Award Spirit of the Festival –  Fox Books, a bookstore

Business of the Year – The Miller Partnership, the festival’s tax advisers

Student of the Year – Ella Cohen - Falmouth University 

Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival 2022 – NextUp Comedy

Tracey Miller Community Award – Leicester City (FC)  in the Community

Legend of Comedy - Stewart Lee

Lifetime Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival – Tony Graves, head of arts and festivals management at De Montfort University
  

The festival will return from February 8 to 26 next year.

Published: 29 Mar 2022