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How to Enter the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards 2024

What are the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards?

The 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards 2024 is now closed to entries.

The 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards is a nationwide talent search to find the best new comedy talent. Since they first launched in 1995 the prestigious awards have helped launch the careers of many of the UK’s best-loved comedians.

Entries open from 10:00 on Monday 20th May 2024, and the deadline for entering the talent search is 23:59 on Sunday 30th June 2024.

What’s the prize?

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to perform at regional heats across the UK through September and October. One regional winner from each of the heats will be chosen and asked to perform at the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards Final which will be held in late October/ early November.

The regional heats will be televised on 大象传媒 Three and 大象传媒 One, and the final will be broadcast on 大象传媒 One.

The winner will receive a prize of £1,000, a paid commission to write and perform in a 30-minute audio pilot mentored by a 大象传媒 Comedy Commissioner, and the opportunity to perform live on the 大象传媒 on Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day, on their 40th anniversary show in March 2025.

How to enter

You can enter by uploading your video file and filling out the online entry form. Please note that you may only enter once and any subsequent entries will not be considered.

The 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards is open to entrants who are aged 18 or over on the closing date of 30th June 2024.

This award is open to new comedians with three years or less experience on the comedy circuit. This means that you must not have been paid to perform comedy gigs before May 2021.

You’ll need to film and upload five minutes worth of material, to be sent as a video file. Your material must not have been previously broadcast on television or radio and must be original and self-written. Please do not send longer video files.

Accepted file types: MP4 and M4V, Windows Media Video, QuickTime*, 3GP, AVI, MPEG, Flash Video.

*Please note we can’t currently accept QuickTime ProRes files.

Babatunde Al茅sh茅 on how to enter the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards 2024

There's a new head judge in town and he's looking for the next big thing in comedy.

Enter the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards 2024!

You can find the entry form here!

Entries will be accepted until 23:59 on Sunday 30th June 2024.

Please ensure you read the full Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before entering.

If you're having any technical difficulties with this form or submitting your entry, you can email us at bbcnewcomedyawards@bbc.co.uk. Please note we will not be accepting any entries via email.

Judging process:

Eligible entries will be sent to a judging panel to draw up a shortlist of acts.

Shortlisted entries may be asked to attend a regional showcase event where they will perform in front of a judging panel to move on to the next stage of the talent search.

Regional heats will be held across the UK (six in total) where finalist will perform in front of a judging panel.

The winner from each regional heat will be asked to perform at the Grand Final.

The full judging panel will be announced at a later date.

Judging criteria:

Entrants will be judged with equal emphasis on each of the following:

  • Originality of material
  • Quality of writing
  • Performance and delivery
  • Audience engagement (if applicable)

Key dates:

Launch: Monday, 20th May 2024 at 10:00
Deadline: Sunday, 30th June 2024 at 23:59

Shortlisted entrants will be notified through July and August, and must be available for one of our showcases which will be held during this period.

Shortlisted entrants must also be available to perform at one of our six Regional Heats which will take place throughout September and October.

Winners of the Regional Heats will be required to attend the Grand Final which will be held during late October/ early November (TBC).