The winner of this year’s BBC New Comedy Award is revealed

The final, hosted by Mark Watson at the Edinburgh Fringe, was broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 this evening at 6.15pm. It saw six finalists perform in front of an expert panel of judges comprised of comedians Hugh Dennis and Jenny Eclair, and Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Comedy Sioned Wiliam, for the chance to win the esteemed award.

On winning the BBC New Comedy Award, Heidi says: “I feel completely blown away to have won, especially against such great competitors. It’s just amazing - a dream come true.”

The London-based comedian, originally from Newcastle in Australia, is also an aspiring writer and first got into comedy as a way to get her writing out to the world. Heidi has previously won So You Think You’re Funny 2016, as well as in the Australian Writers’ Guild Awards 2010 (Best Unproduced Feature Film Script), for a comedy she wrote about a killer shark. In winning this Award she follows the footsteps of previous winners Alan Carr, Josie Long and Julian Barratt.

Sioned Wiliam, Commissioning Editor for Comedy for BBC Radio 4 and judge of the BBC New Comedy Award final, says: “All six finalists were dazzling. We agonised in the judging room and there was a huge amount of love for all of tonight’s performers, but in the end one edged over the line, and this was because of her distinctive material and hugely confident performance.”

Mark Watson, who once again hosted the final, says: “It was a high quality final and probably not an easy decision for the judges to make. I thought they went for the person with the most original material, and I was really pleased to see Heidi go through to the final and extra pleased to see her win. The standard overall was high and I think a number of the people we saw today have good prospects in comedy, so a good occasion all round!”

In addition to the much sought-after accolade, Heidi takes home £1,000 and a 15 minute script commission from BBC Studios. Heidi and her fellow finalists will also be mentored by the BBC Studios comedy team across the year and receive advice, guidance and the chance to write for and appear in slots across the BBC.

The BBC New Comedy Award exists to uncover the next big names in comedy, and its track record speaks for itself with previous winners and finalists including the likes of Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Sarah Millican, Lee Mack, Russell Howard, Julian Barratt, Josie Long, Shappi Khorsandi and Joe Lycett.

This year, which saw around 700 hopefuls apply, six regional heats were held across London, Manchester and Cardiff in June, before twelve were put through to the semi-finals, also held at Edinburgh Fringe. The other five acts to make it through to the final, held at the BBC hub at Edinburgh Fringe, George Heriot’s School, included Andy Field, Morgan Rees, Jacob Hawley, Aaron Simmonds and Sikisa.

Images of Heidi Regan, Mark Watson and the judges are available to download here

Pictured: Hugh Dennis, Jenny Eclair, Heidi Regan, Sioned Wiliam and Mark Watson

RH