As Helen Lederer gets the Bath Plug Award

Luke Richards has won the new act competition at the Bath Comedy Festival.

The London-based stand-up said: ‘I'm amazed to have won considering who else was in the final, everyone was so good. Thanks Bath Comedy Festival for a brilliant night and a great competition."

Second place went to  Vinny Shiu, with Aisha Amanduri third.

The other finalists who qualified for the  final at The Old Theatre Royal were Monica Hsueh, Joe Kanczes, Maria Fedulova, Tony O'Hara, Caroline Madds, Ollie Fox Danny Scott, Dan Coughtre and Alex Milner.

Bath Comedy Festival director Nick Steel said: ‘All twelve aspiring comedians in this year’s final were very strong indeed, and the top three were outstanding. We have definitely found some more future stars tonight.’

The final was hosted by festival patron  Arthur Smith, pictured above with Richards and Steel.

Meanwhile, Helen Lederer was given the Bath Plug Award for contribution to comedy at a launch event for her memoir Not That I’m Bitter.

Steel said the award was for ‘championing women in comedy, having been one of the first women in stand-up comedy during the 80s… [and] for the amazing work creating CWIP [Comedy Women In Print].'

Published: 23 Apr 2024