Luca Cupani wins 'So You Think You're Funny?' 2015
Luca Cupani has won this year's So You Think You're Funny? final.
The new act competition, which has been running at the Edinburgh Fringe for 28 years now, has a strong track record of showcasing the stand-up stars of the future. Peter Kay, Dylan Moran, Miles Jupp, Lee Mack and Aisling Bea are amongst the previous winners of the contest.
Cupani, an Italian 'in his late 30s', moved from Italy to London "looking for better job opportunities. Once in the UK, he discovered the world of stand up comdy and fell in love with it."
The comedian, who is performing the show Luca Cupani: Still Falling at the festival, joked about porridge and his meagre love life in his 7 minute set.
The final took place on Thursday night (27th August) at the Gilded Balloon venue, with the show hosted by Zoe Lyons. The venue says: "This has been a fantastic year for the Gilded Balloon, celebrating its 30th anniversary and the success of the So You Think You're Funny? competition, now in its 28th year, upholds the Gilded Balloon's status as the leading comedy venue at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe."
The venue, talking about the SYTYF? format, adds: "This is a comedy baptism of fire, with the newcomers given just seven minutes to impress an expert judging panel."
The result was determined by a panel of judges, which this year comprised of Karen Koren (Gilded Balloon), Angela Squire (Universal Pictures), Susan Provan (Melbourne Festival), Zoe Rabnett (Just for Laughs), Helen Hawkins (The Sunday Times) and comedian Mark Watson.
Cupani was the last of the acts to perform. The other comedians involved in the final were (in running order): Ben Pope, Yumna Mohamed, Neil O'Rourke, Matilda Wnek, Red Richardson, Ed Day (3rd place), Yuriko Kotani (runner-up), Stephen Lawson, and AJ Roberts.
See also: Luca Cupani answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions
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