The annual Leicester Comedy Festival Awards took place tonight, honouring the comedians, venues and promoters that make this festival the largest and most successful comedy festival in Europe. The VIP awards ceremony took place in Leicester and was hosted by comedian Eshaan Akbar.
This year, beloved, British comedian Stewart Lee won the annual Legend of Comedy Award and attended the ceremony to accept his award. Previous legends have included Jo Brand, Nicholas Parsons, Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Rik Mayall, Nicholas Parsons, Ken Dodd and Sir Norman Wisdom.
Other winners at the ceremony included Troy Hawke for the Best Show award, Marcel Lucont for the Best Kids Show award, Ania Magliano for the Best New Show award, Fox Books for the Liberty/Spirit of the Festival award and The Big Difference for the Best New Venue. Associate Professor and Head of Arts and Festivals Management at De Montfort University, Tony Graves, was presented with a Lifetime Contribution award.
Founding Director of Leicester Comedy Festival, Geoff Rowe, said “it was such an honour for Stewart Lee to attend the ceremony and accept the Legend of Comedy award. He has made a significant contribution to British comedy and also helped support and encourage new talent throughout his career. We were also thrilled that the other winners and nominees, as well as guests and supporters of the festival, attended the event to help celebrate Leicester Comedy Festival. We can’t wait to return in 2023 for the 30th anniversary!”
The awards, now in their 16th year, recognised contributions to this year’s Festival across a host of categories including awards for Best Impro/Music Show, Best Large Venue, Best Small Venue, Student of the Year, Best Promoter, Best Community Project, and Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival 2022.
Leicester Comedy Festival 2022 was a triumphant success, bringing live comedy to enthusiastic crowds travelling from all over the country, as well as some online shows with viewers from France to Brazil. Leicester Comedy Festival’s comedians were finally able to witness their audiences roars of laughter, for the first time since the pandemic.
The full list of award winners are listed below:
Best Show – Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy’d
Best New Show – Ania Magliano: Absolutely No Worries If Not
Best Kids Show – Marcel Lucont: Les Enfants Terribles
Best Online Event – Marvel versus Marvel: The Live Podcast
Best Impro/Music Show – Jon Pearson: What You Been Up To
Best Large Venue – The Y Theatre
Best Small Venue – The Black Horse
Best New Venue – The Big Difference
Best Promoter – Monster Comedy
Liberty Award – Spirit of the Festival – Fox Books
Business of the Year – The Miller Partnership
Student of the Year – Ella Cohen - Falmouth University
Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival 2022 – NextUp Comedy
Tracey Miller Community Award – Leicester City in the Community
Legend of Comedy – Stewart Lee
Lifetime Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival – Tony Graves
Leicester Comedy Festival & The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival will return from 8-26 February 2023.
Picture: Steve Ullathorne
