Who will be crowned this year’s Southport New Comedian of the Year 2023?
The Southport New Comedian of the Year returns with the grand final taking place on Tuesday 10th October – with tickets just £5 each!
It is being held as part of the 12th annual Southport Comedy Festival which takes place under canvas in a luxury heated and seated marquee courtesy of Elite Marquees in Southport’s famous Victoria Park, home of the Flower Show.
This year’s event is sponsored for a second year by Dragon Soop*, a caffeinated alcoholic beverage that comes in a range of flavours.
“Dragon Soop is once again delighted to support the hugely popular Southport Comedy Festival. We wish all acts a Sooper Festival experience!”said Isabelle Kent, Sales & Marketing Director.
Following a nationwide search where aspiring comedians from all over the UK were invited to apply for one of 8 places in the final.
Over 100 comedians applied, we can now reveal which 8 will be going forward to the final.
Dom Hatton-Woods
Dom Hatton Woods
Hailing from Somerset, Dom now resides in Manchester where he is a student as well as a comedian. His comedy is dry and authentic. Talking about his dysfunctional family and all areas of his life in a dry, sarcastic but hilarious way. Dom has more than 10 million views online for his comedy videos.
A rising star Dom has been doing stand up for 3 years and in this short time he has been tour support for Daliso Chaponda, Tom Stade and Jamali Maddix.
Sallyann Fellowes
SallyAnn Fellowes
Sallyann Fellowes lives in Egham, Surrey. A regular on the stand-up circuit she brings a unique brand of comedy weirdness, is unpredictable, funny haha and funny peculiar. She also loves Haribo. Winner of New Forest Comedian 2023, Runner Up Not So New Comedian 2023, Winner G&B Comedy Allstars 2023.
Dave Wilder
Dave Wilder
Based in Brighton, by day Dave is a bestselling, award-winning author.
In his two short years doing stand-up he has already amassed a number of comedy accolades. He has won the Castle Comedy Cup, Big Nose Gong Show, Bill Murray Roast Battle, Oi Oi Comedy Competition, Soho Comedy Revue. He was Runner up in the Reading ‘New Comedian of the Year’, ‘New Forest Comedian of the Year’, ‘Owen’s Got Talent’ competition. Finalist in the ‘King Gong’, West End New Act of the Year, Broadwater’s Got Talent, Backyard Comedy Knockout.
It has been said that he is one of the most exciting new one-liner comics on the circuit today
Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds
Hailing from Newcastle Under Lyme (the Stoke one) Josh performed their first gig in between Poet’s in Stoke, in January 2020 just before the pandemic… Josh’s comedy is mostly autobiographical but they try to highlight the mundanity / normality of attributes and experiences that are quite niche. Josh has come runner up in the Midlands Comedy awards best new act, a finalist in the upcoming breaking talent award by Birmingham Comedy Festival, and shortlisted for BBC New Comedian of the Year 2023. By day Josh is a digital marketer running social media campaigns.
Harry Jenkins
Harry Jenkins
Born and bred in Birmingham where he still lives Harry is an exciting newcomer having been going for less than a year since January 2023. Harry is about 30 gigs in. However in a very short space of time he has gone on to win various gong shows and place in competitions all around the country for his dry, irreverent take on normal everyday life. He is already receiving critical acclaim from industry professionals. “Harry is ridiculously good for someone so new.” Mike Bottomley, owner of Funhouse Comedy Clubs:
“Harry has what it takes to become pro. It’s not just the material or the delivery in this case, but it’s the mental attitude. Jenkins is shrewd and switched on and already has a well tuned comedy brain…He’s someone to watch for the future.” – Nottingham Comedy Review
Martin Durchov
Martin Durchov
Originally from Bulgaria, Martin has been living in London for the last 8 years. A software developer by day Martin was a finalist in So you think you’re funny and Leicester Square new comedian of the year and runner up in Bath New Act of the Year. His style is quick jokes about his background and Bulgaria.
Lucas Jefcoate
Lucas Jefcoate
Originally from Essex, Lucas is now based in London where he is a freelance video editor and podcast producer. Performing in London for nearly two years he has 150+ gigs under his belt. His comedy brand is off-beat humour and weirdly specific observations. Lucas’ passion for joke telling is rivalled only by his obsession with wearing hideous cardigans when entertaining a crowd. Lucas has competed in the New Forest New Comedian of the Year Semi Final, The Max Turner Semi Final and the Backyard Knockout Final. He has recently returned from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival after a successful run of his split bill of stand-up comedy with comedian Serena Smart.
The Halls of Ridiculous
The Halls of Ridiculous
Going 2 years as a club act, originally started the act as a panel show. Chris is an actor and improv/character comedian, Phil is a comedy promoter, actor, and improv/character comedian.
Chris is from Leeds and Phil is from Teesside now based in Yorkshire.
Double act The Halls of Ridiculous push the boundaries of sketch and character creativity to the max with their quick thinking improvised scenes and quirky approach to performance. Featuring: Chris Lumb (BBC Three: Russell Howard’s Good News) and Phil Allan-Smith (BBC One: This is My House).
Winner – Best Alternative Act – The 2023 Yorkshire Comedy Awards
Runner-Up – Hull Comedian Of The Year 2023
Southport Comedy Festival Director and Southport New Comedian Of The Year host Brendan Riley said:
“A highlight event of the festival, the New Comedian Competition is a great chance to have a sneak preview of the stars of tomorrow.
“It is always a lovely night with a positive pro comedy vibe.
“We are really excited about this year’s finalists.
“It is going to be a difficult one to judge as the standard is really high.
“This event usually sells out – and with tickets at just £5 what have you got to lose?”
The Southport New Comedian of the Year event is part of the 17 day Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones BMW.
Running until 15th October 2023 the star-studded line-up includes Jason Byrne, Simon Brodkin, Paul Sinha and Rich Hall to name just a few.
For more information or to book tickets visit the festival website southportcomedyfestival.com
*Dragon Soop should only be consumed by adults aged 18+. Please enjoy responsibly
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