BBC New Comedy Awards 2023 open for entries
- The BBC New Comedy Awards 2023 are now open for entry. The deadline is Sunday 9th July
- The heats will take place in September, with Josh Pugh as the head judge
- "The BBC New Comedy Awards is a tried and tested route for us to unearth the stand-up stars of the future"
Entry is now open for the BBC New Comedy Awards 2023.
The long-running competition is due to return to BBC Three, BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn.
Those selected from the entry process will compete in six regional heats to be televised on BBC Three and iPlayer this autumn, followed by the grand final which will be screened on BBC One and iPlayer.
The winner will receive a paid commission to write and perform in a 30-minute audio pilot under the mentorship of a BBC Comedy Commissioner, plus a trophy and £1,000 cash. The BBC says: "This year's winner could be you!"
Dan Tiernan, who won last year's contest, comments: "A year ago I applied for the BBC New Comedy Award and ended up winning the whole thing. It's completely changed my life, so many doors have opened up and I've already had some absolutely incredible opportunities of the back of it. If you're considering applying but are not sure, honestly do it. You never know it could be you this year!"
The heats will take place in September in Sunderland, Leith, Ballymena, Bangor, Nottingham and London, with head judge Josh Pugh joined in each location by guest judges.
Pugh says: "I am thrilled to be leading the judging panel for this year's BBC New Comedy Awards. So many brilliant comedians have won this award over the years and I can't wait to see the emerging talent that the UK has to offer in this year's competition."
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, says: "BBC Comedy is devoted to discovering and nurturing new comedy talent across the UK and the BBC New Comedy Awards is a tried and tested route for us to unearth the stand-up stars of the future. We can't wait to see what new British Comedy talent we discover this year."
The producers of the TV show say: "Phil McIntyre Television is delighted to once again be producing the New Comedy Awards for BBC. We remain dedicated to taking the televised regional heats to often under-represented parts of the country and showcasing exciting new talent emerging from all corners of the UK."
To enter you need to upload a video of yourself performing (maximum 5 minutes) via bbc.co.uk/newcomedyawards. The closing date for applications is Sunday 9th July.
To get a sense of what the competition is like, previous episodes can be watched via iPlayer
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