2022 Edinburgh Fringe
Jordan Gray wins the Biggest Award in Comedy
- Jordan Gray has won NextUp's Biggest Award in Comedy
- The award is in its inaugural year, based at the Edinburgh Fringe
- A 2-metre tall inflatable trophy, £500 cash and Comedy Store gig are amongst the prizes
Comedian Jordan Gray has been announced the winner of the latest prize to be handed out at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In its inaugural year, streaming platform NextUp's Biggest Award in Comedy - which primarily consists of a 2-metre tall inflatable trophy - the prize went to Gray for her show Is It A Bird?.
She says: "As a child of divorce, you grow up assuming there will never be anything big enough to fill the hole in your heart. Then NextUp Comedy comes along with a FAT OFF 7ft inflatable trophy and suddenly I feel whole again. I have loved watching Next Up flourish over the course of this Fringe and I am so so grateful to be on their radar. This has been the best month of my life."
Gray was previously announced as winner of the Comedy Poster Awards' Audience Award, and is hotly tipped for her Best Show nomination at Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
As well as the trophy, she takes home its requisite air pump and carry case, plus £500 cash, a headline slot at London's famous Comedy Store, and the option to have her recorded for streaming on NextUp.
The three runners up for the award are Home Truths (Kiri Pritchard-McLean), Butch Ado About Nothing (Grace Petrie) and cult hit The Dark Room by John Robertson.
Sarah Henley, co-founder of NextUp, says: "Jordan's show was one of the first I saw this Fringe and it blew my mind - I'm thrilled she's won. The sheer talent distilled into one person has to be seen to be believed... incredible vocal talent and musical ability, smart and hilarious jokes and a winning personality...she deserves to be as huge as the award!"
Alex Hall, Senior Programmer & Producer at Assembly Festival, who are hosting Jordan's show, says: "I first saw Jordan take the roof off Late 'n' Live a few years ago, so when Stamptown said they were producing her show we pretty much offered her a slot on the spot. She's a truly electric performer, it's been an extraordinary month for her and we're delighted to be able to witness her meteoric rise first hand!"