Funny women reach the BBC New Comedy Award Semi-Finals

1 minute read
Picture of Kate Stone

Kate Stone

The BBC Radio New Comedy Award released their list of semi-finalists and we were delighted to see some Funny Women alumni and regional finalists named!

Funny Women Awards regional finalists Catherine Bohart and Lindsey Santoro, 2014 runner up Lauren Pattison and 2013 finalist Sindhu Vee were among the wildcards who will go through to the finals. They will join fellow wildcards Ian Lane and Tom Taylor.

The BBC New Comedy Award semi-finals will take place at the Edinburgh Fringe and be broadcast on Radio 4 Extra. The wildcards will join heat winners Alex Mahoney, George Lewis, Jethro Bradley, Sean Morley, Joe Jacobs and Michael Odewale to compete to get through to the finals, which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on 14th August.

Good luck to all the semi-finalists!

Listen to some of the previous heats here!

 

Picture of Kate Stone
Kate Stone
Kate Stone is the editor of Funny Women and an award-winning script writer. She has written comedy sketches for the BBC's 100 Women project and created the Funny Women Awards Comedy Shorts category.
More by this contributor

You might also enjoy

From the Funny Women Magazine

Check these out

From the Funny Women Team

Review : Charlie & Striptease 

06/05/2026

Orsolya Nagy brings Soviet theatre to London in her double bill ‘Charlie & Striptease’. Both plays, written by Polish absurdist playwright Sławomir Mrożek, find dark comedy in the anxieties of life under an oppressive regime.

Read More »

Q&A : Folusho Falegan, Hoopla!

27/04/2026

London-based improviser Folusho Falegan has spent nearly a decade finding comedy in everyday life. Known for her grounded, relationship-led style, she performs across three groups: Hoopla house team

Read More »
Get notified when registration opens

Comedy Shorts Award Entry Requirements

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.

WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!

WHO CAN ENTER?

This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.

ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?

Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH MY FILM?

We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.

HOW IS IT JUDGED?

Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.

WHAT CAN I WIN?

2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

If you need further information please contact us here