David Bawden triumphs with his deadpan one-liners

The Great Yorkshire Fringe last night crowned its New Comedian of the Year.

David Bawden, 29, from Birkenhead, won over the audience and judging panel with his slow-paced delivery of one liners.

He took home the £750 cash prize, with Sheffield’s David Eagle taking second place and £500 and Tyneside’s Umby Winters, collecting the £250 bronze position. All three also  received flat caps

Others taking part in the final at the Grand Opera House in York were Michael Akadiri, Howard Anstock , Nick Crooks, Hadfield and Swan and Hannah Platt.

It was the second win for David Bawden in just weeks, as earlier this month he won the new act competition run by Manford’s comedy clubs

Bawden, who now lives in Elsemere Port, said: ‘The standard of the competition was insane and I really couldn’t believe it when they announced I was the winner. Unreal. This year has just been absolutely insane.’

Bawden, a marketing executive at a marine services company, has only been gigging for 16 months.

The Great Yorkshire Fringe New Comedian of the Year  is open to any non-professional act who has been performing for five years or less. Previous winners  are Tom Taylor, Simon Lomas,  Jack Gleadow and Mark Grimshaw.

Published: 28 Jul 2019