...With Armando Iannucci the first winner

A new comedy award is to be handed out in honour of Barry Cryer - with Armando Iannucci its first recipient.

The Golden Baz award is to be handed out at next year’s Slapstick Festival in Bristol.

It is being launched by Cryer’s family and aims to highlight comedy writers whose work reflects his values: ‘wit, warmth, originality and a deep commitment to the craft of making people laugh’.

Cryer’s son Bob will be attending the festival for the world premiere of Joke, the film inspired his dad, as well as launching the award.

The movie features ten of Barry’s jokes and features contributions from Dame Judi Dench, Sir Stephen Fry, Alison Steadman, Harry Hill, Rebecca Front, Les Dennis and Miles Jupp.

And in a separate event, the cast of The Thick of It and In The Loop will reunite to honour creator Iannucci, above/

The Slapstick Festival – now in its 22nd year – also features a live discussion with Alexei Sayle talking to Robin Ince about his groundbreaking 1980s television series Alexei Sayle’s Stuff.

And Lee Mack will be talking about Not Going Out e to mark its 20 years on screen.

There will also be screenings of Laurel & Hardy and Bristol’s own Wallace & Gromit accompanied by the 30 piece City of Bristol Brass Band, and a strand of early comedy films including The Flapper.

Festival director Chris Daniels said: ‘In curating this programme, my aim has been to remind us why comedy, and laughter, matter.  At a time when public discourse can feel increasingly brittle and polarised, satire allows us to explore difficult questions without retreating into anger or fear. 

‘Laughter disarms. It connects us. It opens a space for empathy and self-reflection where accusation and defensiveness might otherwise reign.’

The Slapstick Festival will run from Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 February.

Published: 13 Nov 2025