Dutch Barn Spirit of Comedy competition

The finalists have been revealed for the new act competition run by Ricky Gervais’s vodka brand.

The winner of the Dutch Barn Spirit of Comedy ​zcompetition will receive a cash prize of £5,000 and be invited to open for Gervais at London's OVO Arena Wembley on November 15.

When the competition launched, Gervais said: ‘As well as trying to make Dutch Barn a billion-dollar global brand, we thought we might as well try to find Britain’s second greatest comic.’

The final takes place at the Leicester Square Theatre on October 1, with the winner chosen by a combination of audience vote and an expert panel.

The 15 finalists are: Pankaj Pankaj, Matt Black, Raul Kohli, Keefy Jewell, Donal Vaughan, Andy Hillier, Keith Millar, Roman Harris, David Arnold, Ravi Sani, Valeria Vulpe, Mike Carter, Ridwan Hussain, Evaldas Karosas and Mags McHugh.

The final will be hosted by Thanyia Moore with Red Richardson and Sean McLoughlin doing spots. Tickets are available here.

Published: 20 Sep 2025