Episode guide as new act hunt returns to TV

The BBC’s New Comedy Award hits screens tomorrow – the first time they have been on television since 2005, when Tom Allen took the crown.

Heat one was recorded in Cardiff and airs on BBC One at 11:40pm, with all episodes available on the BBC Three iPlayer channel from 6am.

In each show, five comedians performing roughly five minutes of material. Here is Chortle’s episode guide to who is appearing in each heat.

Heat one: West and Wales
Tuesday October 19, 11:40pm

Anna Thomas
Eddy Hare
Jamie Finn
Priya Hall
Tamsyn Kelly

Host: Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Judges: Mawaan Rizwan, Ali Shahalom and Katy Wix
Recorded in: Cardiff

Heat two: Midlands
Wednesday October 20, 11:40pm

Ricky Balshaw
Finlay Christie
Andy Watts
Daman Bamrah
Celya AB

Host: Darren Harriott 
Judges:Mawaan Rizwan, Sikisa and Sarah Keyworth
Recorded in: Wolverhampton

Heat three: North
Tuesday October 26, 11:35pm

Eva Bindeman
Harry Wright
Molly McGuinness
Seeta Wrightson
Izzy Askwith

Host: Amy Gledhill 
Judges: Mawaan Rizwan, Rosie Jones and Josh Jones. 
Recorded in: Halifax

Heat 4: The South
Wednesday October 26, 11:35pm

Daniel Foxx
James Ellis
Lily Phillips
Michael Akadiri
Raj Poojara

Host: Dane Baptiste
Judges: Mawaan Rizwan, Thanyia Moore and Helen Bauer
Recorded in: Croydon

Heat 5: Scotland
TBC, expected November 2

Liam Farrelly
Eddy MacKenzie
Jessie Nixon
Henry Whaley
Sergi Polo

 Host: Larry Dean
Judges: Mawaan Rizwan, Fern Brady and Stephen Buchanan
Recorded in: Dundee

Northern Ireland
TBC, expected November 3

Vittorio Angelone
Roger O’Sullivan
William Thompson
Diona Doherty
Kathryn Higgins

Host: Shane Todd
Judges: Mawaan Rizwan, Catherine Bohart and Micky Bartlett
Recorded in: Portrush

Final

To be recorded in Newcastle, the BBC’s 2021 ‘city of comedy’ on November 3, and broadcast on BBC One on November 5.

The BBC New Comedy Award has been running since 1995 with a break from 2005 to 2011. Other previous finalists and winners have included Lee Mack, Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Rhod Gilbert, Nina Conti, Joe Lycett and Lucy Beaumont.

Published: 18 Oct 2021