Jo Brand to host gig

The finalists for this year’s Funny Women stage award have been announced.

They are: Blank Peng, Charlie Vero-Martin, Hannah Platt, Kate Cheka, Nikola McMurtrie, Rachel Baker, Sasha LO, Su Mi, Tal Davies and Victoria Olsina. 

All ten will now compete at the final at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on September 28, hosted by Jo Brand.

They were chosen from nearly 400 entries. Winners and runners-up will share a prize pot worth £5,000, sponsored by ITV, which includes cash and industry support.

Funny Women founder Lynne Parker said: ‘The increase in entries each year proves that there's still a need to showcase brilliant female and non-binary comedy, particularly at grassroots level. My work is not yet done…’

Other awards will be handed out including the comedy shorts award, supported by London Short Film Festival, the comedy writing award, supported by Sky Studios,  and an industry award, supported by The Comedy Crowd.

Finally, there is a Content Creator Award for digital comedy, voted for by the public. Vote  here .

Last year, Lorna Rose Treen won both the stage and shorts award.

 On Sunday September 23, Radio 4 will air 20 Years of Funny Women, in which  Kerry Godliman presents archive performances and interviews with former participants. The final will also air on Radio 4 at 7.15pm on October 1. 

Published: 13 Sep 2023