Barry Cryer wins Legend Of Comedy Award

Monday 21st March 2016, 10:08pm

Barry Cryer won the Legend Of Comedy title at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2016
The writer and performer says he is "so thrilled" with the title
Other winners at the awards include stand-ups John Gordillo and Gary Delaney

Barry Cryer has been named a Legend Of Comedy.

The veteran writer and performer picked up the title at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2016.

The annual awards aim to honour the best comedians, venues and promoters involved in the February-based comedy festival, however the Legend Of Comedy Award is somewhat separate, with the result determined via a public vote. Previous recipients of the title have included Ken Dodd and the late Rik Mayall and Sir Norman Wisdom.

Cryer attended tonight's ceremony to accept the title in person. He has been working as a writer and performer in British comedy since starting as an act at the Windmill Theatre in London in the 1950s. Now aged 80, he continues to write and perform comedy, including continuing in his role as a regular panellist on Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

On accepting his award, Cryer said: "Thank you for this, I'm so thrilled. I love Leicester. Ronnie [Golden] and I used to play the clubs here. I'm 81 on Wednesday, I don't know how long I've got left - I don't even buy green bananas any more! But seriously, it's such a joy to be here to receive the Legend of Comedy award."

Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival director Geoff Rowe explains: "Our annual Awards Ceremony celebrates the best established and emerging performers at the festival, and is a great way for us to acknowledge the comedians, promoters, venues and staff who make Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival such a success. Barry Cryer, this year's Legend of Comedy award-winner, was recognised for his outstanding contribution to British comedy spanning five decades. A truly deserved win by a living legend."

Dave's Leciester Comedy Festival Awards 2016

A number of shows and venues involved in the 2016 festival were also honoured at tonight's ceremony, which was hosted by Phil Nichol.

John Gordillo took the prize for Best Show, for his Progress In Work show; whilst sketch team Dude Looks Like A Lady (Jessica Ashworth, Juliet Catton, Rebecca Baron, Leanne Davis and Amanda Stauffer) were given the Best Debut Show prize.

Meanwhile Gary Delaney took home the award for Leicestershire's Favourite Joke, which was: "Dave drowned. So at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt. Well, it's what he would have wanted."

Paul Foot's Game of Dangers marketing won in the Best Poster category; and 'the students from De Montfort University' were honoured with the Lifetime Contribution award.

The Little Theatre, The Criterion, Bob's Blundabus, The Cookie Comedy Club and Jokes on Us Free Festival venues took home awards too. Elsewhere in the list of winners, festival sponsors Everards won the Contribution award.