The BBC New Comedy Awards Grand Final has taken place at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre. And the winner is...Midlands comic Eli Hart.

The night was hosted by Edinburgh Comedy Award 2024 winner Amy Gledhill while Head Judge Fatiha El-Ghorri was joined by award-winning stand-up Harriet Kemsley (Last One Laughing UK, Live At The Apollo) and BAFTA-award winning director and writer Adjani Salmon (Dreaming Whilst Black).

The other finalists were Ayo Adeneken, Evaldas Karosas, Jess Carrivick, Shugufta Choudhry and Prava Pillay. 

Eli Hart said: “I honestly never expected to win! Being named BBC New Comedian means a lot; I’ll get great opportunities and to work with wonderful people that can help me keep doing this dumb thing I do. It also means a lot because it's nice whenever anyone says the thing you do is good, and — in this case — deserving of an award. It’s very surreal that there’s a list where my name is right there with some absolute heavyweights in British comedy.”

Fatiha El-Ghorri, Head Judge, said: “It’s a thrill to be Head Judge in the thirtieth year of the BBC New Comedy Awards but it’s also a lot of pressure. I care about every act. Choosing was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Eli absolutely has funny bones and I can’t wait to see his career develop.”

2025’s winner Eli Hart receives a paid commission to write and perform their own 30-minute audio pilot under the mentorship of a BBC Comedy Commissioner, a trophy and £1000 cash. He is a previous finalist in the Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year Final and the Komedia New Comedy Award.

Since launching in 1995, the BBC New Comedy Awards has kick-started the careers of many of the UK’s best-loved comedians. Previous entrants include Alan Carr, Tom Allen, Lucy Beaumont, Josie Long, Nina Conti, Rhod Gilbert, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Jason Manford, Russell Howard, Sarah Millican and Joe Lycett.

All finals and televised heats from the last five series are available on BBC iPlayer.

Pictured: Fatiha El-Ghorri with Eli Hart.