Radio 2 listeners make the choice

Steve Bugeja has been crowned winner of this year’s BBC Radio New Comedy Award.

He took his title – and £1,000 cash prize – at the London Comedy Store, after winning a vote among Radio 2 listeners.

The show, hosted by Patrick Kielty, was broadcast live on the UK’s most popular radio station, with listeners given an hour to register their vote.

Manchester-based Steve, who said his highlight of the competition was meeting Kielty, said before the final: ‘I’m a bit of a loser really so I’m just going to do that onstage for seven minutes and hopefully it will be funny.

‘I always admired stand-up comedians growing up. I just love the idea that one person could entertain so many people at once. Then I had a go myself and I got hooked. The buzz of getting a laugh is incredible.’

Previous finalists have included Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Julian Barratt, Russell Howard, and Rhod Gilbert.

And this year’s other finalists – chosen after a series of regional heats and two semi-finals – were Ean Luckhurst, Jonny Pelham, Mark Silcox, Peter Brush and Rob Carter. The heats were also broadcast on digital station Radio 4 Extra.

You can hear the final here... and here is footage from his heat:

Published: 10 Dec 2013