The BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Award 2019 has launched, setting out to discover and showcase the most exciting new comedy acts that the UK has to offer.
The competition offers new talent a springboard into the world of comedy. The award will once again be hosted by the home of radio comedy, Radio 4.
Past winners and finalists of the BBC Comedy Award include Alan Carr, Sarah Millican, Peter Kay, Joe Lycett, Tez Ilyas, Lee Mack, Sindhu Vee, Rhod Gilbert, Shappi Khorsandi and Ken Cheng.
Sioned Wiliam, Commissioning Editor for Comedy on BBC Radio 4 says: “Radio 4 continues to champion the best up-and-coming comedy talent, and I’m so excited to hear from new voices from all over Britain competing for this award. The BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Award has a stellar record for finding future stars and it’s great to bring the competition back for another year.”
Last year’s winner, Stephen Buchanan says: "I used to dread competitions but the whole experience was honestly so much fun. Winning the award has already presented me with so many amazing opportunities that I'll be forever grateful for. Without doubt I'd urge anyone that does stand-up to enter."
Other winners of the award (previously called the BBC New Comedy Award) include 2005’s Tom Allen, who starred in Radio 4’s award-winning Bleak Expectations, and has a full series of Tom Allen is Actually Not Very Nice coming to the network later this year, 2011’s Angela Barnes, whose second series of Angela Barnes: You Can’t Take It With You aired on Radio 4 earlier this year, and has just finished a four series run as host of 4 Extra’s Newsjack; 2014’s Lost Voice Guy, who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2018 and whose second radio series Ability is currently airing; and 2017’s Heidi Regan, who has a Radio 4 show later this year and has written for various BBC Radio comedy shows.
The winner of this year’s BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Award will take home £1000 and a 15 minute script commission from BBC Studios. All finalists will be mentored by the BBC Studios comedy team across the year and receive advice, guidance and the chance to write for and appear in slots across the BBC.
Entrants need to submit a recording of them performing a five minute comedy routine and complete the application form before the closing date of midnight on Thursday 9 May 2019.
The best 50 entrants will be selected for regional heats, taking place throughout July in locations in London, Cardiff, Leicester and Manchester, and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
The semi-finals and final will be hosted by Mark Watson once again, and will take place in Edinburgh. The semi-finals will take place in August and will see up to twelve comedians battle it out to secure a coveted place in the final. The final will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 15 August, where an expert panel of judges, comprised of stalwarts of the comedy world, will join forces to crown the next winner.
· All applicants must submit an audio recording of themselves performing a five minute comedy routine (sketch, music or stand up) by uploading according to instructions at bbc.co.uk/comedyaward
· Recordings of routines longer than five minutes will be disqualified. Please contact us if you have special requirements for delivery by emailing [email protected] or calling 03700 100 200.
· For full terms and conditions visit bbc.co.uk/comedyaward
· The Award is being produced by Adnan Ahmed for BBC Studios.
· Follow @r4comedyaward on Twitter for further updates.
