Madeleine Brettingham wins Bath New Act Competition 2025
- 1st: Madeleine Brettingham
- 2nd: Ro Dodgson
- 3rd: Emma Hughes
The Bath Comedy Festival New Act Competition 2025 has been won by Madeleine Brettingham.
The competition attracted over 200 applications this year, 120 of which were long-listed in twelve heats. The finalists then took part in the Grand Final on Monday night (21st April) at The Old Theatre Royal, performing 7-8 minutes each.
London-based winner Madeleine Brettingham was presented with an enormous trophy, £250 and will also receive guaranteed paid gigs in the forthcoming year.
The judges picked Ro Dodgson as the runner-up, with Emma Hughes third. They received goodie bags courtesy of sponsors Rengen Lettings, including reusable water containers and bottles of wine.
The other finalists were Aleksandra Ivanova, Atharva Pharande, Carter Seipel, Charlie Lewis, Harrison Thomas, Ily Hamdia, Omari Douglas, Pat Smith and Robert Devereux.
The final was hosted by Alan Francis and the audience were treated to a performance from last year's winner Luke Richards while the judges - Alan Nixon, Mark Robson, Nick Steel, Angie Belcher - deliberated.
Nick Steel, Bath Comedy Festival Director, says: "All twelve 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."