The Grand Final of the Funny Women Awards was back with a bang for 2023 at the Bloomsbury Theatre. It was hosted by Jo Brand and headlined by Lorna Rose Treen, winner of the coveted Funny Women Stage Award and Comedy Shorts in 2022, this was an occasion to remember!
Stage Award supported by Next Up Comedy
The 10 finalists, Blank Peng, Charlie Vero-Martin, Hannah Platt, Kate Cheka, Nikola McMurtrie, Rachel Baker, Sascha LO, Su Mi, Tal Davies and Victoria Olsina each delivered excellent sets but in the end, our comedy industry judging panel awarded Victoria Olsina third place, Hannah Platt second and first prize went to Kate Cheka who wins £500 cash, an exclusive produced content deal with Next Up Comedy, Afternoon tea with Jo Brand, 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.
(L-R) Lynne Parker, runner up Victoria Olsina, host Jo Brand, winner Kate Cheka, runner up Hannah Platt. Photo credit: Mariana Feijo
(Top L-R) Tax Davies, Blank Peng, Lynne Parker, runner up Victoria Olsina, host Jo Brand, winner Kate Cheka, Nikola McMurtrie, (Bottom L-R) Sascha LO, Su Mi , Rachel Baker, runner up Hannah Platt, Charlie Vero-Martin. Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne
COMEDY WRITING AWARD SUPPORTED BY SKY STUDIOS
Winner: Chloe Partridge
Writer Chloe Partridge won the Comedy Writing Award Supported by Sky Studios for her hilarious script ‘Welcome to The Avalon’, beating off serious competition from Kate Rawson and her script ‘The Marital Bed’ and Rosanna Wood’s script ‘Nice Girls Don’t’. Partridge wins a cash prize of £500, a one on one script session with Sky Studios, Afternoon tea with Jo Brand, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners.
COMEDY SHORTS AWARD SUPPORTED BY LSSF
For the Comedy Shorts Award, Amy Spinks and Lauren Soley were announced the winner with their short ‘Where’s your bag?’ which was shown alongside her fellow finalists Claire Parry and Holly Hall’s comedy shorts ‘Pitchlash’ and ‘My coffee journey – 100 days adding coffee to my diet’. Spinks and Soley have won a London Short Film Festival exclusive festival screening, a cash prize of £500, Afternoon tea with Jo Brand, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners.
Winners: Amy Spinks and Lauren Soley
Content Creator Award
Winner Serena Terry.
Serena Terry (@mammybanter) was announced the winner of the Content Creator Award with Soph Galustian (@sophgalustian) and Nerine Skinner (@nerineskinner) as runners up. Terry has won a cash prize of £500, a custom Tatty Devine trophy necklace, one hour studio time with photographer Steve Ullathorne, support and mentorship from Funny Women, our community and industry partners.
FUNNY WOMEN INDUSTRY AWARD WITH THE COMEDY CROWD
The Funny Women Comedy Industry Award supported by The Comedy Crowd was won by Sarah Bowles. Sarah has been recognised for her work as the main coordinator for the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards, set up in response to the potential cancellation of the long-standing Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Sarah-Louise Young and Vix Leyton were also nominated for this award, created to recognise the unsung heroines working tirelessly behind the scenes in the comedy industry.
2023 Winner Sarah Bowles.
All the winners and runners up take a share of the £5000 prize fund kindly donated by ITV. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and see you in 2024!
