Omar Badawy wins 'So You Think You're Funny?' 2021
- Omar Badawy has won So You Think You're Funny? 2021
- Rae Brogan and Andy Watts were the runners up
Stand-up Omar Badawy has won the So You Think You're Funny? new act competition.
Omar was born in Cairo, and "at four years old, he was whisked away to the valleys of Wales." His stand-up focuses on his upbringing, culture and strange encounters.
The competition, which is in its 33rd year, has a track record of discovering future stand-up stars.
Rae Brogan and Andy Watts were the runners up.
The final, hosted by Mark Watson, took place in The Wine Bar at Gilded Balloon's Teviot building last night (Thursday 26th August), as part of the Edinburgh Fringe.
The organisers say: "With almost 450 applicants, around 30 regional heats that took place across the country and were streamed live on zoom in partnership with some of the UK's highest profile comedy venues, and semi-finals streamed live in association with NextUp Comedy, this year's competition has been one of the hardest fought in such exceptional conditions. For the first time in the competition's history only the Grand Final was held in front of a live audience (as well as being available to watch live on Next Up Comedy)."
The other acts taking part in the final were Farhan Solo, Lottie Field, Kathleen Hughes, Nate Kitch, Caroline Maddison, Kathy Maniura and Phil Marzouk.
The prize package for Omar Badawy includes £1000, a run as part of Gilded Balloon's 2022 Fringe programme and a complementary professional headshot photoshoot by Steve Ullathorne.
The judges were Karen Koren, Katy Koren, Maisie Adam, Bruce Dessau and Paul Willers.
Karen and Katy Koren, the artistic directors at Gilded Balloon, say: "It has been on the hardest 18 months in the history of So You Think You're Funny? and it's been amazing to have been able to bring new comedy to the live stage again. We searched through lockdown and came up with 10 very worthy finalists who all have a future career in comedy. It was very difficult to choose - however thanks to our panel of judges we have chosen our worthy first second and third.
Excited to see what the future holds for these talented comedians."
Video highlights
Andy Watts