Competition finalists announced

The five acts  in the running for this year’s Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award have been announced. 

They are: Bab, Abbie Edwards, Abbie Hale, Harry Jenkins and Ryan S Lewis.

All will be competing for the title – set up in 2014 – at the festival’s launch event at The Glee Club on Friday October 3.

Originally from Dudley, the Bab duo of Amy Spinks and Lauren Soley met while studying performing arts at Thomas Telford Sixth Form. They’ve since moved to North London where they both work in scripted television. ‘Mainly, refilling the biscuits, pens and fighting with the printer on behalf of others,’ Spinks jokes

On their sketch-based comedy, Lauren says: ‘We are regional, chaotic, relatable, we hold a smashed mirror up to society. This is a tonic for us, we've been mates since we were at school and just love having a laugh together and with audiences.’

From Solihull, Abbie Edwards got a taste for performing after appearing at a University of Southampton Freshers Event in 2017. Now living in North West London, where she works in education, Abbie cites Rose Matafeo, Sharon Wanjohi, James Acaster and Stewart Lee as some of her comedy inspirations. 

Describing her approach to stand-up as ;self-deprecating,’ she adds: "I overshare a lot. I’ve been told I have quite a manic persona, but I mostly feel like I’m being myself on stage. Take from that what you will.’

Hailing from Bilston, Wolverhampton, though now living in Erdington, Birmingham, Abbie Hale studied drama at De Montfort University, Leicester, where she performed a stand-up set as part of her dissertation. She enjoyed it so much, she signed on for a comedy course led by comedian James Cook, making her public debut at Loki Wine Bar, in Birmingham, in late 2019.

She said: ‘My comedy style is character-based and I love creating characters that are some of the worst people to spend time around," says Abbie, who name-checks "Vic and Bob, Julia Davis, Caroline Aherne, Victoria Wood and the League Of Gentlemen" as comedy favourites.

A ‘born and bred Brummie,’ Harry Jenkins lives in Selly Park. He made his stand-up debut in December 2022 for Reckless Comedy at The Royal Pug in Leamington Spa, appearing alongside established comic Andrew Bird. He has been pursuing comedy full-time since January 2025 as both an event promoter and comedian.

‘I just try and come across likeable and affable on stage and just talk about anything I think might be funny, and more than anything just enjoy being up there,’ he says of his approach to stand-up.

Ryan S Lewis was born in Smethwick, and still lives in Sandwell. A civil servant by day, the former drama student made his comedy debut at Cradley Heath's famed Holly Bush in May 2022. With a fondness for ‘over-enthusiastic storytelling’, he said: ‘I’ve got a very eclectic taste when it comes to comedy. I love everything from Morecambe and Wise and Les Dawson to Eddie Murphy and Dave Chapelle; [but] I would say my idols are Peter Kay, Eddie Murphy and Bernie Mac.’

The Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award has previously handed out its ‘Mug Of Victory’ trophy to acts including Josh Pugh and Celya AB.

A spokesperson for Birmingham Comedy Festival said: ‘Selecting just five acts from such a rich pool of West Mids comedy talent is never easy. The standard remains incredibly high. Yet these five performers all stand out. It’s going to be an electric night."

Boasting more than 90 performances, the city-wide festival runs from October 3 to 12. Details at www.bhamcomfest.co.uk

Published: 31 Jul 2025