Mark Watson to introduce the next generation of comedy stars

The final of the Chortle Student Comedy Award is to be broadcast on Radio 4 Extra and BBC Sounds for the first time in its almost 20-year history.

The respected talent hunt was launched in 2004, and winners over the years have included Joe Lycett, Jamali Maddix and Phil Wang.

Other established comedy stars who got an early break by making the final include Ed Gamble, Chris Ramsay, Simon Bird, Laura Lexx, Iain Stirling, Tom Rosenthal, Tim Renkow, Evelyn Mok, Lauren Pattison, and Glenn Moore.

This year’s final will take place at Up The Creek comedy club in Greenwich, South London, on Wednesday July 12, and will be hosted by Mark Watson. It will air on Radio 4 Extra and BBC Sounds at 10.30pm on the following night, Thursday July 13.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: ‘I’m so proud of the fantastic things our alumni have gone on to achieve in comedy, and hope the Chortle Student Comedy Award helped them make those early steps into their careers.

‘It’s brilliant that our finalists this year will get even greater exposure for their talents on national radio – while listeners will get to hear these creative up-and-coming talents for the first time.’

Julia McKenzie, commissioning editor for comedy and entertainment for BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra added: ‘Chortle has been a champion of student comedy for an amazing 20 years now and I have always enjoyed going to watch the competition and seeing those emerging voices.

‘I’m delighted to help shine a light on the award and finalists by broadcasting it to our listeners. for this first time.’

Heats for the 2023 Chortle Student Comedy Award were held in student unions and comedy clubs in St Andrews, Edinburgh, Durham, Salford, York, Warwick, Bristol, London and Dublin – and the finalists will be chosen at two semi-finals at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London tomorrow and on May 9.

The Chortle Student Comedy Award will be produced by Impatient Productions in association with Chortle.

• Buy tickets for tomorrow’s semi final here, and for the May 9 semi-final here. Tickets for the final are available here.

Published: 26 Apr 2023