UK's longest-running new comedy contest

Omar Badawy has won this year’s So You Think You’re Funny? new act competition at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The 23-year-old, a student London Metropolitan University, joked that his victory meant his father would finally acknowledge that he was a proper comedian.

He wins £1,000, a run as part of the  2022 Fringe programme at the Gilded Balloon, the venue which runs the contest, and a package of promotional material

Second place went to Glaswegian Rae Brogan, with Andy Watts third.

The rest of the finalists in the contest were: Farhan Solo, Lottie Field, Kathleen Hughes, Nate Kitch, Caroline Maddison, Kathy Maniura and Phil Marzouk.

Thirty regional heats and the semi-finals were conducted online this year, meaning that tonight’s final might have been the first real-life gig many of the competitors had done in months.

Gilded Balloon’s artistic directors, Karen and Katy Koren, said in a statement: 'It has been on the hardest 18 months in the history of So You Think You’re Funny? and it’s been amazing to have been able to bring new comedy to the live stage again. 

'We searched through lockdown and came up with 10 very worthy finalists who all have a future career in comedy.  It was very difficult to choose - however thanks to our panel of judges we have chosen our worthy first second and third.  Excited to see what the future holds for these talented comedians.

Running since 1988, So You Think You’re Funny?  is the UK’s most established new act competition. Previous finalists and winners include Peter Kay, Dylan Moran, Lee Mack, Russell Howard,  Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges, Romesh Ranganathan, Jack Whitehall and Aisling Bea.

Around 450 aspiring comedians entered this year's competition.

Badawy will also be taking part in the final of the Chortle Student Comedy Award, being held at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London  on September 20. Tickets

Published: 26 Aug 2021