BBC New Comedy Awards

The acts that made it through the heats now perform at Birmingham's historic Alexandra Theatre. The night is hosted by former winner Lucy Beaumont and there's a special performance by 2023 NCA winner Joe Kent-Walters, AKA Frankie Monroe.

The search is almost over to find the winner of the prestigious BBC New Comedy Awards 2024. From over 1,000 entries, 30 fresh new comedians from across the UK were whittled down to just six by a judging panel, led by head judge Babatunde Aléshé, to compete in the grand final at the iconic Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham.

Dane Buckley

Jake Donaldson

Marty Gleeson

Paul Hilleard

Jonathan Oldfield

Maia Tassalini

Presented by writer, comedian and former New Comedy Award winner Lucy Beaumont, the BBC New Comedy Awards 2024 final will feature a special performance by 2023 NCA winner Joe Kent-Walters, AKA Frankie Monroe.

Lucy Beaumont says: "I'm so excited to be hosting the BBC New Comedy Awards 2024. I remember how exciting it is to start out in a comedy career and I'm honored to share the stage with such incredible new talent as they begin, what is sure to be, long careers in the industry."

Babatunde Aléshé says: "We've been all over the place and we've seen some exceptional talent. Of the 30 amazing semi-finalists, we're down to just six. It's going to be tough to decide who is going to take the crown, but I'm really excited about it."

Joe Kent-Walters comments: "It has been such an incredible experience this past year. My life has changed in ways I could only have dreamed of. It's still such a surreal feeling, it took a while to sink in that I had won. I think the icing on the cake to round it all off will be performing at this year's grand final and handing the baton on to this year's winner."

The search began in Leicester, before visiting Pontypridd, Crofton Park, Belfast, and Paisley, and finishing in Lancaster. Joining award-winning comedian, actor, presenter, and podcaster Babatunde Aléshé on the judging panel for the heats were a star-studded line-up of comics and award-winning industry experts. Together they were able to make the difficult decision of who would move on to the final.

The winner will receive a paid commission to write and perform their own 30-minute audio pilot under the mentorship of a BBC Comedy Commissioner, plus a trophy and £1,000. In addition, this year's winner will perform live on the BBC as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day night of TV in March 2025 - a campaign which will also celebrate the charity's 40th anniversary.