Adam Dorr wins West End New Act of the Year 2025
- West End New Act of the Year 2025: Adam Dorr
- Runners-up: Madeleine Brettingham and Jim Hooker
- Audience Award: Imran Hafeez and Sophie Sconcia
The winner of the West End New Act of the Year 2025 competition final was Adam Dorr.
He won the final which took place last night (6th May) at The Albany in London. The Kent-based comic, who is autistic, has been performing stand-up since 2022. He won £150 in cash, a place on the WENAOTY Edinburgh Fringe Showcase, a paid spot with Rural Roars comedy and a week's worth of Edinburgh Fringe accommodation.
Madeleine Brettingham and Jim Hooker bagged the runner up spots.
Meanwhile Imran Hafeez and Sophie Sconcia tied for the Audience Vote award.
Resident host Steve McLean says: "We've not had a tie for any podium place in the final before. The rules state that the casting vote lies with me but I couldn't decide between them so they both nabbed it."
The West End New Act of the Year is an independent comedy competition and is open to any comedian who has been going lest than four years. It was set up in 2021 to give a platform to new acts who found their careers hampered by the pandemic.
Over 300 acts entered this year's competition, with around 120 being offered a place. The other acts to make it through to this year's final were Mi Churchill, Ira Sylvester, Dean Harmer, Murph, Gabrielle MacPherson, Caroline Gustafsson, Louis Beer, Verity Sharpe, Gemma Mushington, Sara Lessman and Rohan Ashar.
The judges for the final were Ali Warwood of Commoner's Comedy, Clara Heimerdinger of Nice and Spiky Comedy and Matt Arnold of Dulwich Hamlet Comedy. The show was headlined by Don Biswas.