Blue Nun Day

James Burns

James Burns

We know you’re probably sick of hearing about today being Blue Monday (didn’t we just have a Blue Monday?), so we assure you we aren’t going to mention it again. But it is Blue Nun day! We teamed up with Blue Nun to find out your thoughts on women in comedy in a survey, the results are in and there were a couple of unexpected surprises. The main one being that a man topped the polls!

We asked you who your favourite older woman character on TV was and while June Whitfield’s Gran from ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ was popular and Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Grantham gathered many votes, it was Brendan O’ Carroll’s Mrs Brown who stormed the poll – also beating Nana in The Royle Family and Mrs Slocombe. What would Mrs Slocombe’s pussy think of that?

Another surprise was to see Victoria Wood pipped to her usual post of favourite female comedian by comedy double act (officially retired) French and Saunders with 38% of the vote over Victoria’s 26%. Jo Brand, Catherine Tate and Miranda Hart were also hot contenders for top spot.

Sarah Millican was by far your favourite when it came to live comedy, with over 50% of the vote going to her. Nina Conti was also a popular choice – proving a monkey and a penchant for ventriloquism can take you far.

With 35% of the vote Sandi Toksvig reigns as queen of comedy on the airwaves for hosting BBC Radio 4’s 'News Quiz' but regular contestant Sue Perkins isn’t far behind for favourite female fronted radio show with 'Dilemma', as well as Bridget Christie’s 'Mind the Gap'.

You’re clearly ready for the new series of ‘My Mad Fat Diary’ on E4, voting Sharon Rooney's Rae your favourite female character in TV, who got 26% of the vote. Only 3% behind was Zawe Ashton’s Vod from ‘Fresh Meat’ which tells us you love women characters with personal struggles, an unusual outlook on life and great taste in music.

Funny Women executive producer Lynne Parker commented: “The continued popularity of French & Saunders, Jo Brand, Catherine Tate and Sarah Millican shows that the UK public are welcoming the return of more traditional comedy styles as pioneered by Morecambe and Wise and Marti Caine in the seventies and eighties.  What is very exciting is that live comedy has driven most of the British acts on to the small screen and this has, by return, fed into a thriving new live comedy scene where acts like Miranda Hart can tour a show and sell out big venues.”

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Get notified when registration opens

Comedy Shorts Award Entry Requirements

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.

WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!

WHO CAN ENTER?

This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.

ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?

Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH MY FILM?

We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.

HOW IS IT JUDGED?

Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.

WHAT CAN I WIN?

2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

If you need further information please contact us here