As Susan Wokoma, Jordan Gray and Lenny Rush scoop breakthrough awards

The shortlists have been announced for the National Comedy Awards – as organisers name Susan Wokoma, Jordan Gray and Lenny Rush as the winners of new breakthrough awards.

Taskmaster leads the nominees with seven: for best comedy entertainment show and for hosts Greg Davies and Alex Horne, and contestants Fern Brady, Judi Love, Sarah Millican and Munya Chawawa as comedy entertainment personalities.

Ghosts, After Life and Derry Girls are next, with four nominations apiece.

Winners of the other accolades will be decided entirely by public vote – which is how the shortlists were drawn up – and announced live on Channel 4 on February 17.

No shortlist has been named for best stand-up show, Instead that will be announced closer to the ceremony, with votes taking place live during the show.

Of the Comedy Breakthrough Star Awards, Wokoma – who first came to prominence in Chewing Gum in 2015 – is cited for starring in BBC One’s Cheaters. Gray was a breakout star of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe with her show Is It A Bird?, about being transgender, and Rush garnered praise for stealing scenes opposite Daisy May Cooper in Am I Being Unreasonable?

Tom Allen will host the two-hour ceremont, in aid of Stand Up To Cancer,  at the Roundhouse in London.

Votre online at www.thenationalcomedyawards.com.

 Full list of National Comedy Awards nominees

Best Scripted Comedy

Ghosts
Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared
Derry Girls 
After Life

Best Comedy Entertainment Show

The Graham Norton Show 
Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Taskmaster 
The Chris and Rosie Ramsey Show 

Best Comedy Panel Show 

Mock the Week
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown  
QI
Would I Lie to You?

Best Comedy Podcast

Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Parenting Hell 
Shagged, Married, Annoyed with Chris and Rosie Ramsey
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
Have A Word with Adam Rowe and Dan Nightingale

Outstanding Comedy Actress

Rose Matafeo (Starstruck)
Saoirse Monica Jackson (Derry Girls)
Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters)
Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts)
Daisy May Cooper (Am I Being Unreasonable?)

Outstanding Comedy Actor

Dylan Llewellyn (Big Boys)
Ricky Gervais (After Life)
Joseph Gilgun (Brassic)
Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts)
Stephen Merchant (Outlaws)

Outstanding Supporting Role

Jamie Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls)
David Earl (After Life)
Lolly Adefope (Ghosts)
Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls)
Diane Morgan (After Life)

Outstanding Female Comedy Entertainment Performer

Fern Brady (Taskmaster)
Sandi Toksvig (QI)
Judi Love (Taskmaster)
Katherine Ryan (Backstage with Katherine Ryan)
Sarah Millican (Taskmaster)

Outstanding Male Comedy Entertainment Performer

Greg Davies (Taskmaster)
Joe Lycett (Joe Lycett’s Big Pride Party)
Munya Chawawa (Taskmaster)
Lee Mack (Would I Lie to You?)
Alex Horne (Taskmaster)

The National Comedy Awards for Stand Up To Cancerwas commissioned for Channel 4 by Tom Beck and Phil Harris. It will be produced by Dan Baldwin, Suzi Aplin and Susie Hall for Hungry Bear. 

Published: 23 Jan 2023