We are at Hoxton Hall last night for our second London Regional Final with host 2015 Funny Women Awards runner-up Sarah Keyworth at the helm! Kicking the competition off with deceptively dark material was our favourite Luxembourger Anne Klein, before Jenan Younis joked about her heritage and schooling. Jess Bray got our Tammy Girl knickers in a twist – earning her runner-up! Corby native Alexandra Haddow had questions about Norwegian holidays while Jo Fletcher-Cross shared the secret of a long life in Glasgow. Shelf gave us a whirlwind introduction quiz so we could find out if we were a Ruby or a Rachael. Runner-up Esther Manito shared some parenting tips while Sian Clarke wondered if she was unlikeable – as it happened we loved her. Dubliner Anna Cliff explained herself via emojis and Sarah Mann cracked us up with a very unglamorous glamping trip. Olga Koch impressed the judges so much she became our third runner-up and Kristina Pui hit the headlines in her native New Zealand. Kelly Convey shared an incident of being caught short in her leggings but it was Lily Phillips and her Mooncup material that won her a place in our final, check out our Q&A with Lily here!
Funny Women: How does it feel to be through to the Funny Women Awards final?
Lily Phillips: My Mooncup and I are delighted with the result. The line up was so goddamn good it could have been any one of us. And, it proves Vagina jokes ARE funny…period. FYI that is not my joke, I got it from a greetings card – sorry not sorry.
FW: How did you get started in comedy?
LP: I originally trained as a dancer. At college, we devised a silly game show for a drama project and I was a contestant. I decided to dress up as a fat bearded man, using eyeliner for the beard and pillows to pad out my belly. I was probably laughing more than the audience but it felt good. I then worked as dancer for a few years before I formed a comedy cabaret act, The Ruby Darlings with a friend. I started talking more and more in between songs – so thought I would try stand up. I did a couple of gigs and then went to the Funny Women awards last year and was so inspired I started gigging as much as poss. Which makes it even more incredible that a year later I’m in the final. I mean, what the actual balls?
FW: Who is your comedy inspiration?
LP: People like Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French and Victoria Wood because they paved the way for the rest of us. These days there are a lot more – but still not enough – female comedians to aspire too, which makes the world you’re entering more welcoming and familiar. Plus they make me laugh my pants off.
FW: Who are your favourite funny women?
LP: Katherine Ryan, Sara Pascoe, Desiree Burch, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Britney Spears’s Instagram, my nan, the list goes on. Ladies are killing it at the mo, so many role models for us gals starting out!
Join us for the Funny Women Awards final, hosted by Jan Ravens on 12th March at the Duchess Theatre. For tickets and more information click here!
