So You Think You're Funny

Since the competition began in 1988, So You Think You're Funny has gone on to produce some of Great Britain's and Ireland's finest comedy talent. It has also become the longest running best comedy newcomer award in Great Britain. Each year it attracts in excess of 500 applicants, who are then whittled down to 70 semi-finalists, and then 9 finalists. The finals are held in the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Venue The Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival every August.

History

So You Think You’re Funny was founded by Karen Koren in 1988. The sponsorship from Channel 4 began in 1993 and was kept up until 2004. Since then, Channel 5 and The Paramount Comedy Channel have been sponsors. In the first year of the competition, Koren, who was also a co-founder of The Gilded Balloon, put up the £250 prize money. Since the beginning the award has blossomed, with winners now receiving £2000 and the chance to guest present a comedy programme on Paramount Comedy. The winner is =given a place on the Best of British Show at the Montreal “Just For Laughs“ Festival. This event is considered by professionals to be the best festival for showcasing comedic talents to Canadian and U.S. audiences. The success of the competition lies in the judges' ability to select a winner whose material and comedy persona are original, but who is also marketable to a mass audience. Past judges have included Steve Coogan, Owen O’Niell, Avid Merrion(Leigh Francis), Bob Mortimer and former So You Think You’re Funny Winners Dylan Moran and Rhona Cameron. There have been many celebrity comperes for the evening, among them Eddie Izzard, Bill Bailey, Graham Norton and Jo Brand. Many winners and finalists have had careers which prospered following their appearances in the final. Some have pursued career in stand up comedy, going on to win the coveted Perrier Award or gain a nomination. Others have prospered in television, most notably Lee Mack, Rhona Cameron and Martin Trenaman. In two years' time the competition will be entering its twentieth year.

Rules and Eligibility

As of 2006 rules and eligibility for entry into So You Think You’re Funny are as follows

* Performers must not have been performing regularly within the last 18 months (01/09/2007).
* Performers must not have been paid regularly for the gigs performed
* All performers must perform 8 minutes of totally original material

Process of Elimination

Because of the amount of entrants, the heats for So You Think You're Funny now take place all around the UK & Ireland. These heats are not a direct competition. The judges pick the best three competitors in each heat. These three performers then go onto the second round of heats in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. During this round of heats the judges only pick one winner. This person then goes on to take part in the final at The Gilded Balloon during the Fringe Festival.

Winners & Finalists

1988
* Bruce Morton (Winner)1989
* Phil Kay (Winner)1990
* Trio Brothers (Rab Christie & Greg Herchill) (Winners)1991
* Alan Francis (Winner)1992
* Rhona Cameron (Winner)1993
* Dylan Moran (Winner)
** Steve Furst (Finalist)
** Michael Smiley (Finalist)1994
* Martin Trenaman (Winner)1995
* Lee Mack (Winner)1996
* Tommy Tiernan (Winner)
** Valentine Flyguy (Finalist)
** John Henderson (Finalist)
** Patrick McDonnell (Finalist)
** Lucy Porter (Finalist)
** David Keay (Finalist)
** Jason Byrne (Finalist)1997
* Peter Kay (Winner)
** Nick Doody (Finalist)
** Paul Foot (comedian) (Finalist)
** Jonathan Gunning (Finalist)
** Stephen Morrison (Finalist)
** TJ Murphy (FInalist)
** Rod Woodward (Finalist)1998
* Rob Rouse (Winner)
** Moz (Finalist)
** Caroline Quinlan (Finalist)
** Stuart Stanley (Finalist)
** Alex Zane (Finalist)
** Dan Antopolski (Finalist)
** Reginald D Hunter (Finalist)
** Nadine Lennard (Finalist)
** Kevin Hill (Finalist)1999
* David O'Doherty (Winner)
** Josie Long (Finalist)
** Andy Zaltzman (Finalist)
** Russell Howard (Finalist)
** Juliet Cowan (Finalist)
** Richard Morris (Finalist)2000
* Drew Rokos (Winner)
* Des Clarke (runner-up)
** Jason Manford (Finalist)
** Matt and McKinnon (Finalist)
** Francesca Martinez (Finalist)
** Les Hommes Sans Nommes (Finalist)2001
* Miles Jupp (Winner)
* Stefano Paolini (2nd Place)
* Alan Carr (Joint 3rd Place)
* Michael Downey (Joint 3rd Place)
** Seymour Mace (Finalist)
** Hils Barker (Finalist)
** Inder Manocha (Finalist)
** John Bishop (Finalist)
** The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III (Finalist)2002
* Matthew Osborn (Winner)
* Mark Watson (2nd Place)
* Nina Conti (3rd Place)
** Michael Anderson (Finalist)
** Andy Bone (Finalist)
** Greg Davies (Finalist)
** Rhod Gilbert (Finalist)
** Rufus Hound (Finalist)
** Greg McHugh (Finalist)2003
* Tom Wrigglesworth (Winner)
* Andrew Lawrence (2nd Place)
* Stuart Hudson (3rd Place)
** Anna Crilly (Finalist)
** Michael Fabbri (Finalist)
** Anne Keirle (Finalist)
** Matt Kirshen (Finalist)
** Rodney Marques (Finalist)
** Ed Petrie (Finalist)2004
* Nick Sun (Winner)
* Russell Kane (2nd Place)
* Chris McCausland (3rd Place)
** Rob Collins (Finalist)
** Jarleth Regan (Finalist)
** Zoe Lyons (Finalist)
** Susan Taylor (Finalist)
** Rose Heiney (Finalist)
** Lee Bannard (Finalist)2005
* Tom Allen (Winner)
* Sarah Millican (2nd Place)
* Joe Wilkinson (3rd Place)
** Charlie Baker (Finalist)
** Kevin Bridges (Finalist)
** Robert Broderick (Finalist)
** Emma Fryer (Finalist)
** Stuart Goldsmith (Finalist)
** Josh Thomas (Finalists)2006
* Wes Packer (Winner)
* Hannah Gadsby (2nd Place)
* Ginger & Black (3rd Place)
** Andrew Watts (Finalist)
** Alan Bennett (comedian) (Finalist)
** Caroline Clifford (Finalist)
** Raph Shirley (Finalist)
** Holly Walsh (Finalist)
** Marlon Davis (Finalist)

2007 [http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2007/s/15673/so_you_think_youre_funny%3F_2007_final/review/]
* Richard Sandling (Winner)
* Ben Davis (2nd Place)
* Joanne Lau (3rd Place)
** Toby Whithouse
** Carl Hutchison
** Daniel Rigby
** Gar Murrin
** Jack Whitehall
** James Marsh

2008
* Daniel Simonsen (Winner)
* Seann Walsh (2nd Place)
** Sara Pascoe
** Ahir Shah
** John Gavin
** Josh Widdicombe
** Gearoid Farrelly
** Richard Perry
** Daniel Sloss
** Doc Brown

External links

* [http://www.gildedballoon.co.uk The Gildedballoon.co.uk]