Sam Eley wins 'Sketch Off!' 2025 final
- 1st: Sam Eley as Basil Crumbwick
- 2nd: Luke Nixon as Jim Midge
- 3rd: Nikola McMurtrie
Sam Eley has won Leicester Square Theatre's competition for sketch, character and alternative acts.
Eley, performing as Basil Crumbwick, triumphed at tonight's Sketch Off! live final. Performing in a mask he could barely see out of, his set involved reading 'wisdom' written on balls pulled from a bag, and audience interaction. He took home a trophy and the £500 cash prize. Speaking in character as he picked up the win, he said: "Thank you for the world's sketchiest bloke [award]. I would like to address the rumour that I have been asking for sexual favours for... how much do you win again?... five quid."
The industry judges picked Luke Nixon, who performed as down-on-his-luck teacher Jim Midge, as the runner-up, which comes with a £250 prize. Meanwhile Nikola McMurtrie's Thomas The Tank Engine themed set won her the £150 third place prize.
This was the 9th year of the competition. The final was hosted by Sam Nicoresti and also featured a set by last year's winners, Burger And A Pint (Ted Milligan and James Trickey).
The final featured the top qualifiers from heats, which took place over the last few months at the Museum Of Comedy. Each of the contestants had 6 minutes on stage. The other acts competing were Big Boys (Christiaan Hendriksen & Ollie West); Hannah Whyte as Roger Prick; Sardines (Livvie Newman, Cecilia Orr and Sarah Alli); Behemoth (Mo Gascoigne, Heidi Parsons and Tim Carlier); Rachel Baker as Gwen; K&J Club (Kirsty Cooke & Jamie Cooke); Christian Dart as Detective Gumshoe; Hudson Hughes; and Jess Carrivick as Cassandra Della Treebourne.