The 2025 Funny Women Awards Grand Final, sponsored by BBC Studios’ Funny Parts, lit up the Bloomsbury Theatre with bold voices, fresh perspectives, and knockout comedy.
After six months of heats and semi-finals — with nearly 2,000 entries and
nominations including 450 for the coveted Stage Award — we brought together the very best of female and non-binary comedy talent for one unforgettable evening.
From big laughs to breakout moments, this year’s Awards were a powerful reminder
of why Funny Women continues to champion originality, diversity and the future of
comedy.
Here’s the roll call of all our winners and runners up for this year.
Many congratulations to everybody who took part! You are all winners in our eyes!
Stage Award
Stage Award. The finalists—Kate Hammer, Kay Nicholson, Madeleine Brettingham, Maple Zuo, Rachel Galvo, Samantha Day, Shalaka Kurup, Sharifa Butterfly, Sophie Garrad, and ‘Zoe’ (Nicola Mantalios)—brought a wide spectrum of styles and voices to the stage. From surreal characters to smart observational stand-up.
‘Winner 2025 – Zoe’ (Nicola Mantalios)
(Top L-R) Sophie Garrard, Sharifa Butterfly, Samantha Day, Rachel Galvo, Kay Nicholson, Shalaka Kurup, Kate Hammer, Runner up Maple Zuo, Runner up Madeleine Brettingham. (Bottom) Winner ‘Zoe’ Nicola Mantalios.
Photo credit: Newman Photography
COMEDY WRITING AWARD
Winner: Ana Basu
Writer Ana Basu won the Comedy Writing Award for her hilarious script ‘Night Bus’, beating off serious competition from Kate Rawson and her script ‘The Marital Bed’ and Maura Campbell’s script ‘Nice Girls Don’t’.
COMEDY SHORTS AWARD
For the Comedy Shorts Award, Comedy Shorts Award, won by Rosalie Minnitt with her short “Essential Items of a Regency Women“. Briony Puddepha for “Sending the Email’ and Jo Somner for “The Trad Wife” were worthy runners up.
Content Creator Award
Winner Helena Moody
Helena Moody (@helenamoody) was announced the winner of the Content Creator Award with Alice Etches (@aliceetches) and Adéṣayọ̀ Tàlàbí (@simplysayo) as runners up.
Runner up Alice Etches
FUNNY WOMEN INDUSTRY
The Funny Women Comedy Industry Award was won by Jessica Toomey. Gina Lyons, Kay Stonham and Alex Hardy and Louisa Jackson were also nominated for this award, created to recognise the unsung heroines working tirelessly behind the scenes in the comedy industry.
2020 Winner Christine Rose & 2023 Winner Sarah Bowles present the Award.
All the winners and runners up take a share of the £6000 prize fund kindly donated by BBC Studios Funny Parts. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and see you in 2026!
