2021 Funny Women Awards Winners Announced!

3 minute read
Picture of Funny Women

Funny Women

The Grand Final of the Funny Women Awards was back with a bang for 2021 at the Bloomsbury Theatre After a very pared down Covid compliant final in 2020. Hosted by Jayde Adams and headlined by Izzy Askwith, winners of the coveted Funny Women Stage Award in 2014 and 2020 respectively, this was an occasion to remember! 

Stage Award SPONSORED BY SKY STUDIOS

The 10 finalists, Abby Wambaugh, Amelia Stubberfield, Beau Holland, Caitlin Powell, Lara Ricote, Louisa Keight, Natalie Bellingham, Ola Labib, Bronwyn Sweeney, and Sharon Wanjohi each delivered excellent sets but in the end, our comedy industry judging panel awarded Ola Labib third place, Bronwyn Sweeney second and first prize went to Lara Ricote who wins £1000 cash, one hour studio time with photographer Steve Ullathorne, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners. The finalists will be invited on a UK tour with Mick Perrin Worldwide.

Winner Lara Ricote, runners up Bronwyn Sweeney & Ola Labib, Lynne Parker & host Jayde Adams. Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

Comedy Writing Award sponsored by Sky Studios

Winner Kathryn Bond. Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

Comedian and writer Kathryn Bond won the Comedy Writing Award sponsored by Sky Studios for her hilarious script Personal, beating off serious competition from Lily Phillips and her script We’re All Going To Die and Zoë Tomalin’s script Creeps which has already scooped the David Nobbs Memorial Trust New Comedy Writing Award. Bond wins a cash prize of £1000, a funded development prize from Sky Studios, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners.

NextUp Comedy Shorts Award

For the NextUp Comedy Shorts Award, Ada Player was announced the winner with her short Johnny and Tommy which was shown alongside her fellow finalists Zara Janjua and Jo Wiggins’s comedy shorts Match Of The Yesterday Euro 1314 and Dog Haus. Player has won an exclusive production deal with NextUp, a cash prize of £1000, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners.

Winner Ada Player. Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

heat Content Creator Award

Winner Hayley Morris. Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

Hayley Morris was announced the winner of the heat Content Creator Award. Morris has won a feature in heat magazine and heatworld as well as a cash prize of £1000, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners.

Best Comedy Writer Award with Comedy 50:50

Sophie Duker was named winner of The Funny Women Best Comedy Writer Award with Comedy 50:50 and 2020’s winner Christine Rose was on hand to accept the award on Duker’s behalf.

2020 Winner Christine Rose. Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and see you in 2022 which will be our 20th anniversary! 

Missed the show? You can watch it on NextUp here!

We have a 50% off membership code exclusive for Funny Women Members.
 
Code: FW2021-8SN9G 
 
Apply the code when you ‘become a member’ to get 50% off a monthly plan which can be used to then watch the final! Along with the finals, this also gives full access to all the on-demand shows and upcoming livestreams for the price of a single show. Cancel at anytime too, so if you just want to watch the Funny Women show and then leave it, then you can.

Picture of Funny Women
Funny Women
Funny Women is the leading female comedy community, helping women to perform, write and do business with humour.
More by this contributor

You might also enjoy

From the Funny Women Magazine

Check these out

From the Funny Women Team

November Gig Guide

07/11/2025

The evenings are getting darker, the temperatures chillier, the fireworks are exploding a fraction too close in the park, and those early Christmas tree decorators are bursting at the seams, which can only mean one thing: November.

Read More »
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