Comedy Women in Print celebrates funny female writers

Comedy performers Joanna Scanlan, Lolly Adefope and Pauline McLynn have joined the judges for the UK’s only award celebrating witty female writers. 

They join authors Marian Keyes, Janet Ellis, Yomi Adegoke and Emma Kennedy on the panel for the Comedy Women in Print Prize as it embarks on its second year.

Keyes will chair the judges for the prize for published novels alongside Scanlan, Kennedy, McLynn, Adefope and Laura Steven, winner of  last year’s prize for The Exact Opposite of Okay.  

For unpublished novels, author  Fanny Blake chairs the panel that comprises Adegoke;  Kate Bradley from HarperFiction; coic and activist Grace Campbell; Dr Jennifer Young, head of writing and journalism at Falmouth University  and last year’s winner Kirsty Eyre.

A new award for  humorous graphic novels will be judged by former Blue Peter presenter Ellis, Rachael Ball and  Nicola Streeten from LDComics, UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, stand-up Jen Brister and  actress Paula Wilcox. 

Helen Lederer, who founded the awards, said: ‘The generosity and commitment of the judges has upped our game for the second year. As the suffragettes said, it’s "deeds not words", so this year we’ve added another unsung group of witty cartoonists and artists in the graphic novel category. 

‘CWIP remains an irreverent but relevant prize at a time when women write funny books but get published less than men. 

Scanlan added: ‘Judging for CWIP is my idea of heaven – it’s the ultimate OOO (Out of Office) reply excuse to snuggle up with a funny book without having to fork out for a vacation. Who needs anything more?’

Entries for the award are now open and the closing date  is Monday  March 2. For more details,  visit www.comedywomeninprint.co.uk  

Published: 22 Jan 2020