Leicester Comedy Festival 2025 Awards nominees
The nominees for the Leicester Comedy Festival 2025 Awards have been announced, following the conclusion of the festival proper on Sunday.
Nominees span both the Leicester Comedy Festival and sister event the UK Kids' Comedy Festival. The awards ceremony will take place on 31st March in the city, where Lifetime Contribution and Legend of Comedy awards will also be present
Best Show
Andrew White: Young, Gay and a Third Thing
Christian Dart: GUMSHOE!
Michael Shafar: Well Worth the Chemo
Ray O'Leary: Your Laughter Is Just Making Me Stronger
Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer
Best New Show
Amy Annette: Work in progress
Andy Barr: The Rising Star's Hotly-Anticipated 4th Debut Hour
Barry Ferns: My 7 Years as Lionel Richie
Bilal Zafar: New show
Helen Bauer: Work in progress
Jon Wagstaffe: Look at The Council Estate Of Him
Best Debut Show
Hasan Al-Habib: Death to the West Midlands
Kyrah Gray: Work in progress
[pm]Max Fulham]: Work in progress
Mike Keenan: Impossible Dream
Omar Badawy: Culture Cuck
The Mayor and His Daughter: A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy
Best Kids Show
Benny Shakes: Slugageddon!
Christiaan Hendriksen: Treeeeee
ComedySportz UK
Dr Jones Funny Bones
Mr Sleepybum's Dream Machine
Robin Morgan: Cool Story Bro (A Family-Friendly Comedy Show)
Best Variety Show
Improv Comedy from Box of Frogs
Katie Pritchard: I Kiss The Music
Lucy Pearman: Lunartic (WIP)
Pull My Goldfinger
Steffen Haanes and Greg Lass: The Ritual
The Great Divinator: Touched By The Spirits
Audience Choice
14/48 Takeover
A Very Serious Detective Play
Accident Avoidance Training for Cutlery Users: Advanced & Improvers
Laura Monmoth: Diary of A Wimpy's Kid
Lucas Jefcoate: Will He Won't He, Can't He Auntie?
Olaf Falafel's Stupidest Super Stupid Show So Far
Best Poster
Graeme Rayner: KrowdWerk
Jake Donaldson: Spectacle
Katie Davison: 60 Minute Millionaire
Keep It Clean: Family Comedy Club
Sikisa: Lady Justice
Liberty Award
BBC Radio Leicester
BID Leicester
The Worst Record Cover of the World Exhibition
Welly's Work Place & Sunny Skies Community Café
Best Promoter
Den of Laughs
Foxy Comedy
Jokes on Us
Just the Tonic
Best Small Venue
Black Horse Laughter Loft
Duffy's
Firebug
Phoenix
Real Ale Classroom
The Big Difference
Best Large Venue
Curve Studio
De Montfort Hall
Harborough Market Hall
Just The Tonic at Hansom Hall
Sue Townsend Theatre
The Y Theatre
Best New Venue
Inside No9
Leicester Cathedral
The International
The Old Plough
The Wheatsheaf Inn
Tonne
Tracey Miller Community Award
Leicestershire Archaeological & Historical Society
Menphys
Pedestrian
Soft Touch Arts
Warning Zone Life Skills Centre
Welly's Work Place & Sunny Skies Community Café
Student of the Year
Abbie Bishop
Dillan Hawes
Lavinia Durea
Livy Mularczyk
Paige Billings
Zak Hayter
Business Contribution
Arriva
BID Leicester
Everards
Howes Percival LLP
The Rowleys Partnership
Versatile
Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival 2025
Attenborough Arts Centre
Broom Leys Primary School
Cool As Leicester
Juice Creative Design
Leicester Comedy Festival 2025 featured 1,017 performances, with 753 shows taking place in 76 venues across Leicester and further into Leicestershire. The UK Pun Championships was won by Will B Found, whilst Samantha Day took victory in the Silver Stand Up contest. Louise Atkinson won Leicester Comedian of the Year.
Meanwhile, the UK Kids' Comedy Festival 2025 featured more than 65 events across 30 venues.
Michael Harris-Wakelam, CEO of organisers Big Difference, said: "2025 has been another outstanding year for our festivals, and the quality and diversity of the shows this year is evident in this list of nominees. Our fantastic community come together to help make three weeks of laughter across Leicestershire possible, supporting our charity and making the festivals a reality. The funds raised go back into supporting a range of community initiatives, workshops, and more. We look forward to celebrating the successes of this year's festivals with all of the nominees."
Chris Butler, producer of the UK Kids' Comedy Festival, says: "We're delighted to be able to present The UK Kids' Comedy Festival, bringing the best in children's and family comedy to Leicestershire each year. Thousands of families enjoy the shows, make memories, and laugh together. Through initiatives like Loving Laughing, Joke Spot, and Laugh Academy, we gave hundreds of children and young people their first taste of comedy performance. And of course, we made sure to embarrass plenty of dads along the way! The festival would not be possible without the support of our acts, venues, promoters, volunteers, facilitators, partners, and audiences, and we remain incredibly grateful for their contributions. We can't wait to see what next year brings!"