Samantha Day has been crowned the 2022 Southport New Comedian of the Year!
The former accountant and mum-of-six wowed judges and a packed audience at Southport Comedy Festival, walking away with an impressive trophy provided by event sponsors Dragon Soop and a £200 first prize.
Samantha started her career in stand-up comedy later in life and has already amassed a number of credits to her name, including: Comedy Store King Gong – Winner (2022), Full Frontal Glorious Comedy Award – Finalist (2022), Stand Up for Cider – Finalist (2021), Manfords New Act of the Year – Semi-Finalist (2020),Not So New Comedian of the Year – Semi-Finalist (2019), and Best New Act, Bath Comedy Festival – Semi-Finalist (2019).
Southport Comedy Festival Director Brendan Riley said: “As ever it was a frantic night to run everything and ensure it all went smoothly!
“It was a great audience, I would like to thank everyone for coming.
“We were wowed by all these brilliant new comedians.
“There were eight fresh comedians, who we had never seen before. Each one of them was really, really strong – they all showed lots of their own personality on the night.
“In my view, each one of the eight could go and become full time comedians.
“There three comedians who placed in the top three, Samantha Day, Adam Evans and Andy Roach, were superb performers – it was a tough choice for the judges!
“To see new comedians coming to compete from all over the UK shows just how strong the Southport New Comedian of the Year competition has become.
“I would like to thank Dragon Soop, for sponsoring this year’s event – and also for their amazing trophy!
“I would like to say a big thank you to all our judges: magician and entertainer John Harding; Caroline Constable, from our sponsors, Dragon Soop; Alan Adams, General Manager of Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park Events; Babu Patel, owner of SB Patel Chartered Accountants; and Andrew Brown, founder of Stand Up For Southport and Queenscourt Hospice Lottery Promotions and Marketing Manager.
“We have lots more great comedians to see over the next two weeks, with more details on our Southport Comedy Festival website. Please turn your telly off and come out and enjoy some superb live comedy!”
Second on the night was Adam Evans, a talented writer and comedian from East Sussex but based in Manchester, where he co-hosts the Saboteur award-winning Spoken Word event VerboseMCR. Elsewhere, Adam reviews crisps on the internet because lockdown happened. ‘The Crisp Review’ can be found on Instagram, TikTok and now, occasionally, the stage.
In third place was Andy Roach, who Andy runs Laugh Hard comedy nights in Crosby. Unusually Andy started his comedy career during lockdown with clips of him playing songs on guitar. He started performing live comedy in November 2021. Andy was shortlisted earlier in the year in the Musical Comedy Awards 2022.
The 2022 Southport Comedy Festival is currently taking place under canvas in a luxury heated and seated marquee courtesy of Elite Marquees in Southport’s famous Victoria Park, home of Southport Flower Show.
This year’s Southport New Comedian of the Year competition was sponsored by Dragon Soop, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage that comes in a range of flavours.
“Dragon Soop is delighted to be involved with this popular festival and wish all acts a Sooper experience!” said Sales & Marketing Director Isabelle Kent.
Following a nationwide search where aspiring comedians from all over the UK were invited to apply for one of eight places in the final. The Southport New Comedian of the Year competition was open to all comedians who have less than four years’ experience of performing before a paying audience. Over 100 comedians applied.
Southport Comedy Festival takes place from Friday, 30th September 2022 to Sunday, 16th October 2022 with stars including Al Murray, Milton Jones, Jason Byrne, Jeff Green, Jimeoin, Ed Byrne, Jo Caulfield, Reginald D Hunter, Chris McCausland, and more, in association with Halliwell Jones BMW.
For tickets please visit southportcomedyfestival.com
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