Comic recognised in South Bank accolades

Sophie Willan has been shortlisted for best breakthrough artist in the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

The award covers all genres, with musicians actors, singers, writers and directors also vying for the title

It is sponsored by The Times, which also provides the judges. The paper said Willan was ‘a comedian finding her voice, getting more personal, more political, more complex, all while maintaining the gag-happy breeziness of the frothiest club set’.

Her latest stand-up show, Branded, was nominated in the lastminute.com Edinburgh Comedy Awards last year.

Other nominees for  the breakthrough award are Nubya Garcia (pop), Alex Lawther (TV drama), Dickson Mbi (dance), Monica Dolan (theatre), Oliver Zeffman (classical music), Rachel Redmond (opera), Imogen Hermes Gowar (literature), Francis Lee (film) and Heather Agyepong (visual art).

Previous winners of the breakthrough award include Nick Helm and Stormzy.

The awards also have a  comedy category, and this year’s nominees are Channel 4's Catastrophe, BBC Two's Inside No. 9 and BBC Three's This Country.

Winners will be announced at The Savoy hotel in London on Sunday July 1, with highlights shown later on Sky Arts.

Published: 29 May 2018