Wisdom wins Leicester fest honour

He might not be the most fashionable, of comedians, but Norman Wisdom has been named the ultimate Legend of Comedy.

He has won the poll for the most popular comedian ever to have performed in the 20-year history of the Leicester Comedy Festival.

Richard Bettsworth, editor of the Leicester Mercury, said: ‘It's a terrific result because Norman Wisdom was a patron of the Leicester festival when it started, and his comedy is universal’

Also at the festival’s annual awards ceremony last night, Romesh Ranganathan picked up the gong for the best show for a work-in-progress hour called Rom Com. It comes only a couple of weeks after he also won the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award for new acts.

Although he would also have been eligible for best new show, that award went to Brett Goldstein’s Contains Scenes Of An Adult Nature.

The Make Me Happy award for best community project to comedian Rob Gee; De Montfort University received a lifetime contribution award, and its radio station, Demon FM, received an award for its contribution. The Criterion and Just the Tonic won venue awards.

Here's Wisdom in his heyday:

Published: 12 Mar 2013