How to Enter the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards 2025
What are the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards?
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 Friday 21st March 2025, and the deadline for entering the talent search is 23:59 on Sunday 25th May 2025.
What’s the prize?
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to perform at regional heats across the UK through September and October 2025. 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 mid-October 2025.
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.
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 25th May 2025.
You must not have been performing paid comedy gigs before 01st January 2022 – i.e. performances where you were paid cash (unpaid or bucket collection open mic spots before this time are fine).
You must have at least five minutes of un-broadcasted material that is original and self-written; and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The use of generative AI tools to create or develop any part of any entry is not permitted and will lead to disqualification.
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.
Enter the 大象传媒 New Comedy Awards 2025!
You can find the entry form here!
Entries will be accepted until 23:59 on Sunday 25th May 2025.
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
Key dates:
Launch: Friday 21st March 2025 at 10:00
Deadline: Sunday 25th May 2025 at 23:59
Shortlisted entrants will be notified through June and July 2025, 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 2025.
Winners of the Regional Heats will be required to attend the Grand Final which will be held in mid-October 2025.
