Comedians take part in Channel 4 showcase tonight

Ten comics will tonight compete for the Sean Lock Award.

The accolade was set up by Channel 4 last in honour of the late comic to recognise alternative comedy voices.

Taking part in the showcase in Leeds tonight are:

Elaine Robertson:  County Durham-born comic who made her Edinburgh Fringe debut this year with her show Delulu and who was one of the regional finalists in the 2022 BBC New Comedy Award.

Harriet Dyer: Cornish comedian and mental health advocate who talks about her bipolar disorder as part of her act. She’s been a full-time stand-up since 2013, with several solo shows under her belt, and has appeared on TV shows including The Russell Howard Hour and Comedy Central Live.

Jin Hao Li: Nominated for best newcomer at this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards for his Fringe debut Swimming in a Submarine, Jin Hao formerly made it through to the finals of the Chortle Student Comedy Award and the BBC New Comedy Awards – and was part of the Pleasance Comedy Reserve in 2023. He was born in China, raised in Singapore and educated at St Andrews.

Leah Davis: Radio presenter – currently on Capital Xtra on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons – and stand-up who has reached the finals for the Funny Women competition and BBC New Comedy Awards semi finals.

Marjolein Robertson: Shetland born and raised comedian who performed her first Edinburgh Fringe run in 2016, despite only having a few gigs under her belt. She was nominated for the  (ISH) Edinburgh Comedy Award last year and has also reached the final of Funny Women  and the  BBC New Comedy Awards. She regularly appears on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking The News

Marty Gleeson: Irish comedian based in London who won this year’s LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year competition run by Comedy Bloomers. She’s also won the Pete Nash Award for comic originality.

Millie Malone: Bristol-based comedian described as ‘as poisonous as [she] is charming’ with ‘surreal and punchline-heavy sets’ 

Pravanya Pillay: 2023 Chortle Award Best Newcomer Nominee and 2022 So You Think You’re Funny? finalist who has appeared on BBC Three’s Asian Network Comedy and Rhod Gilbert’s Growing Pains on  Comedy Central

Ricky Balshaw: An equestrian rider with cerebral palsy who represented Britain in the Beijing 2008 Paralympics before turning to stand-up. He was named best new act in the 2021 Midlands Comedy Awards

Shalaka Kurup:  Indian doctor turned stand-up who has won the West End New Act of the Year,  been runner-up Brighton Komedia New Act of the year and second runner up Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year. 

All the act taking part tonight were nominated by comedy promoters around the UK.

Eric Rushton won the inaugural award last year and said at the time: ‘Watching Sean Lock was a huge part of my childhood, I’m such a huge fan and I can’t think of a better person to be associated with.'

Published: 22 Oct 2024