So You Think You're Funny
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Since the competition began in 1988, So You Think You're Funny has gone onto produce some of Great Britains and Irelands finest comedy talent. It has also become the longest running best comedy newcomer award in Great Britain. Each year it attracts in excess of 500 applicants all of whom are then shortlisted down to 70 finalists. The finals are held in the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Venue The Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival every August.
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[edit] History
So You Think You’re Funny was founded by Karen Koren in 1988. The sponsorship with Channel 4 began in 1993 they kept up the sponsorship till 2004. Since then Channel 5 and The Paramount Comedy Channel have been sponsors. In the first year of the competition Koren, who was also a co-founder of The Gilded Balloon, personally put up the £250 pound prize money out of her own back pocket. There was also a possibility of TV deal. Since the beginning the award has bloosmed with the now winner recieveing £2000 pounds and the chance to guest present a comedy programme on Paramount Comedy. If this was not enough the winner is then given a place on the Best of British Show at the Montreal “ Just For Laughs “ Festival. This event is considered by professionals as the best festival for showcasing comedic talents to Canadian and U.S. audiences. The success of the competition lies solely in the judges canny ability to select the winner whose is not only original in material and in their comedic persona but who is also marketable with a mass audience. Past judges have included Steve Coogan, Owen O’Niell, Avid Merrion(Leigh Francis), Bob Mortimer and former So You Think You’re Funny Winners Dylan Moran and Rhona Cameron. Also there have been many celebrity comperes for the evening among them have been Eddie Izzard, Bill Bailey, Graham Norton and Jo Brand. Many Winners and Finalists alike have prospered greatly from there appearances in the final. Some have pursued a highly successful career in stand up comedy going on to either win the coveted Perrier Award or gain a nomination. Others have prospered in the field of television most notably Lee Mack, Rhona Cameron and Martin Trenaman. In two years time the competition will be entering it’s twentieth year and despite it’s unforeseen success at the start, this competition shows very little sign of slowing down.
[edit] Rules and Eligibility
As of 2006 rules and eligibility for entry into So You Think You’re Funny are as follows
- Performers must not have been performing regulary within the last 18 months (01/sept/2005).
- Performers must not have been paid regulary for the gigs performed
- All performers must perform 7 minutes of totally original material
[edit] Process of Elimination
Because of the amount of entrants, the heats for So You Think You're Funny now take place all around the U.K. & Ireland. These heats are not a direct competition. The judges pick the best three competitors in each heat. These three performers then go onto the second round of heats in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. During this round of heats the judges only pick one winner. This person then goes on to take part in the final at The Gilded Balloon during the Fringe Festival.
[edit] Winners & Finalists
1988
- Bruce Morton (Winner)
1989
- Phil Kay (Winner)
1990
- Trio Brothers (Rab Christie & Greg Herchill) (Winners)
1991
- Alan Francis (Winner)
1992
- Rhona Cameron (Winner)
1993
- Dylan Moran (Winner)
- Steve Furst (Finalist)
- Michael Smiley (Finalist)
1994
- Martin Trenaman (Winner)
1995
- Lee Mack (Winner)
1996
- Tommy Tiernan (Winner)
- Valentine Flyguy (Finalist)
- John Henderson (Finalist)
- Patrick McDonnell (Finalist)
- Lucy Porter (Finalist)
- David Keay (Finalist)
1997
- Peter Kay (Winner)
- Nick Doody (Finalist)
- Paul Foot (Finalist)
- Jonathan Gunning (Finalist)
- Stephen Morrison (Finalist)
- TJ Murphy (FInalist)
- Rod Woodward (Finalist)
1998
- Rob Rouse (Winner)
- Moz (Finalist)
- Caroline Quinlan (Finalist)
- Stuart Stanley (Finalist)
- Alex Zane (Finalist)
- Dan Antopolski (Finalist)
- Reginald D Hunter (Finalist)
- Nadine Lennard (Finalist)
- Kevin Hill (Finalist)
1999
- David O'Doherty (Winner)
- Josie Long (Finalist)
- Andy Zaltzman (Finalist)
- Russell Howard (Finalist)
- Juliet Cowan (Finalist)
- Richard Morris (Finalist)
2000
- Drew Rokos (Winner)
- Des Clarke (runner-up)
- Jason Manford (Finalist)
- Matt and McKinnon (Finalist)
- Francesca Martinez (Finalist)
- Les Hommes Sans Nommes (Finalist)
2001
- Miles Jupp (Winner)
- Stefano Paolini (2nd Place)
- Alan Carr (Joint 3rd Place)
- Michael Downey (Joint 3rd Place)
- Seymour Mace (Finalist)
- Hils Barker (Finalist)
- Inder Manocha (Finalist)
- John Bishop (Finalist)
- The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III (Finalist)
2002
- Matthew Osborn (Winner)
- Mark Watson (2nd Place)
- Nina Conti (3rd Place)
- Michael Anderson (Finalist)
- Andy Bone (Finalist)
- Greg Davies (Finalist)
- Rhod Gilbert (Finalist)
- Rufus Hound (Finalist)
- Greg McHugh (Finalist)
2003
- Tom Wrigglesworth (Winner)
- Andrew Lawrence (2nd Place)
- Stuart Hudson (3rd Place)
- Anna Crilly (Finalist)
- Michael Fabbri (Finalist)
- Anne Keirle (Finalist)
- Matt Kirshen (Finalist)
- Rodney Marques (Finalist)
- Ed Petrie (Finalist)
2004
- Nick Sun (Winner)
- Russell Kane (2nd Place)
- Chris McCausland (3rd Place)
- Rob Collins (Finalist)
- Jarleth Regan (Finalist)
- Zoe Lyons (Finalist)
- Susan Taylor (Finalist)
- Rose Heiney (Finalist)
- Lee Bannard (Finalist)
2005
- Tom Allan (Winner)
- Sarah Millican (2nd Place)
- Joe Wilkinson (3rd Place)
- Charlie Baker (Finalist)
- Kevin Bridges (Finalist)
- Robert Broderick (Finalist)
- Emma Fryer (Finalist)
- Stuart Goldsmith (Finalist)
- Josh Thomas (Finalists)
2006
- Wes Packer (Winner)
- Hannah Gadsby (2nd Place)
- Ginger & Black (3rd Place)
- Andrew Watts (Finalist)
- Alan Bennett (Finalist)
- Caroline Clifford (Finalist)
- Raph Shirley (Finalist)
- Holly Walsh (Finalist)
- Marlon Davis (Finalist)
[edit] External Links
The Gildedballoon.co.uk [1]
