Standup comic Andrew Lawrence has taken home a £750 prize and the prestigious National talent hunt award,
sponsored by McCain, from this year's York Comedy Festival.
Lawrence, one of 30 comedians who took part in heats throughout the week of
the festival, went on to win in the grand final at Harkers in York on Saturday
12th June, in front of a packed audience and a judging panel consisting of
Dan Jones from the York Evening Press, Sally Harrisson from the BBC, Marnie
Whiting from comedy booking agents Mirth Control, and Funny.co.uk editor Simon
Kimber.
He follows in the footsteps of welshman Rhod Gilbert who won the award
last year, went on to win the BBC Three New Comedy award and has since performed
around the world. Let's hope similar success awaits Lawrence.
The overall quality of all the acts at this year's final was exceptionally
high and they all deserve to go on to great things. The unlucky runners up
were Henning, Stuart Hudson, Roisin Conaty, Primo Salacini and Russel Kane, all
of which are names you should be hearing a lot more of in the
future.
As an extension of the McCain campaign to help people feel better at the end
of a bad day, they awarded a 'Chin Up' pack to each of the contestants to give
them a boost, bringing a smile back to their face despite not winning the
competition. The 'Chin Up' packs include joke books, comedy DVDs and "other
tools to help improve their act for next year", although the latter
suggestion may well provoke a curt and expletive filled response from those who
left without a £750 cheque.
McCain spokesperson Jane White added; "It takes a lot of courage to stand up
in front of a group of strangers and make them laugh, so hats off to all the
finalists, who are a really talented bunch and made it a tough
competition."
