Comic named new act of the year

Bournemouth-based comic Madeleine Brettingham has been named new act of the year at the Bath Comedy Festival.

She receives £250 and guaranteed paid gigs in the forthcoming year. 
The other 11 finalists were Aleksandra Ivanova, Atharva Pharande, Carter Seipel, Charlie Lewis, Emma Hughes, Harrison Thomas, Ily Hamdia, Omari Douglas, Pat Smith, Ro Dodgson, Robert Devereux.

Bath Comedy Festival director Nick Steel said: ‘All 12 aspiring comedians in this year’s final were very strong, and indeed the standard in the heats was so good we will be inviting some of those who didn’t make the final to come back over the coming year as well.’

Brettingham has recently started stand-up having amassed  a number of writing credits on the likes of Frankie Boyle’s New World Order,  Late Night Lycett and Have I Got News For You.

Her solo work-in-progress Michael Made Me Do It will be performed at  the Edinburgh Fringe this summer. 

Published: 23 Apr 2025