Maple Zuo and Madeleine Brettingham runners-up

Nicola Mantalios has won this year’s Funny Women stage award in the guise of her alter-ego Zoe.

The Newcastle-based comic was previously a finalist in the Laughing Horse and the So You Think You’re Funny? competitions as long ago as 2011,  adopting her weird character two years later.

Chinese comic Maple Zuo and Madeleine Brettingham, who won this year’s So You Think You’re Funny?, were named runners-up at the final at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. 

The other finalists were Kate Hammer, Kay Nicholson, Rachel Galvo, Samatha Day, Shalaka Kurup, Sharifa Butterfly and Sophie Garrad. 

The competition is open to female or non-binary acts with under five years of agency representation, if any.

In other categories, Ana Basu won the writing award; Rosalie Minnitt won the shorts award for her Regency alter-ego Clementine;  Alice Etches won the content creator award; and Jessica Toomey of Manchester’s Frog and Bucket club and the Live Comedy Association won the industry award.

Published: 25 Sep 2025