Nik Hill wins Silver Stand Up Competition 2022
- The Silver Stand Up Competition 2022, for acts over 55 years-old, has been won by Nik Hill
- The 64 year-old from Gloucester has been performing stand-up since the early 2000s
- He says: "Age is not a barrier to comedy"
Nik Hill has won the Silver Stand Up Competition, the contest for acts over the age of 55.
The 64 year-old has been running gigs in Gloucester since the early 2000s, and currently hosts popular regular shows at Gloucester Rugby Club and Gloucester Brewery.
In his 5 minute set, he impressed the judges with jokes about his height, his relationship with his wife, having to deal with his step-kids and the politically correct landscape now compared to when he was growing up.
The live final took place at PETER Pizzeria last night (17th February), as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival.
The competition was judged by Jonathan Kerry from festival organisers Big Difference, podcaster and actor Martin Ballard and Caroline Ryan from the Cocktails & Comedy club, who noted the standard of the finalists "made it a very difficult one to call."
The other finalists performing were Paul Merryck, Geoff Alderman, Kevin Hudson, Sha Wylie, Paul Jennings, Jimbo and President Obonjo.
As he accepted the trophy, Hill said "this means a lot".
Speaking to British Comedy Guide after coming off stage, he said he was "delighted" to win, adding "Age is not a barrier to comedy. I did a gig in Bristol a few weeks back to a crowd where the average age was probably 22, they loved it! If it's funny, people will laugh."
He concluded: "This win will make me really focus on my longer sets now and hopefully propel me to better things. I'm also keen also to give back to comedy in any way I can with maybe workshops or tips."
The Silver Stand Up Competition has been running for a decade now, with previous winners including Nipper Thomas, Marguerite Grant and Ed de Cantor.
The 2022 Leicester Comedy Festival, which has a programme featuring over 800 performances, continues until Sunday, with the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year new act competition set to take place on Saturday night (19th February). More details about the festival can be found at comedy-festival.co.uk
Broadcast partner Union Jack Radio has been bringing listeners highlights and comedian interviews across the festival. Catch up via unionjack.co.uk