Comedy in Your Eye regular, Christopher Donovan was awarded the first runner up prize by the SYTYF 2023 judges at this year's So You Think You're Funny Final at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Last night the 36th edition of So You Think You're Funny, the longest running and arguably most prestigious new comedian competition, took place last night at Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon and we are proud to say that Stand Up newcomer and Comedy in Your Eye regular, Christopher Donovan placed runner up!
Christopher, a former contributor to BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking the News, has wowed the audiences at the Camden Eye and did the very same last night with the judges up in Edinburgh.
Unfortunately, he was just pipped to the post by the eventual winner, Samira Banks, who delved into narratives such as the journey her father undertook to arrive in Britain and the categorisation of ethnic groups in porn. The judges gave third place to Lizzie Norm, who opened with jokes about her fashion sense at 53, and her love of cakes.
The artistic directors of the Gilded Balloon, Karen & Katy Koren, said, ‘Huge congratulations to Samira Banks. This year’s competition was fierce, hence our judges submitting 10 finalists instead of the usual maximum of nine, so Samira should be incredibly proud.
"So You Think You’re Funny? is the UK’s longest running and most established competition of its kind. We’d like to thank every single comic who entered this year’s competition and we can’t wait to follow the finalists’ careers - we’re sure in years to come they will be some of the UK’s biggest comics."
Guest judge, Greg McHugh said: ‘It's a great reminder of the incredible new talent breaking onto the comedy scene across the UK and I'm sure everybody at tonight's final saw some comedians who are set to do huge things in the future. Huge congrats to all ten finalists and to Samira Banks for taking the crown. You won comedy!’
Comedy in Your Eye favourites Chantel Nash, Sophie Garrad, Carwyn Blayney, Archit Goenka and Lauren Carroll were also representing with amazing sets in the SYTYF 2023 final. The other two finalists were Alex Lennox and Cormac Sinnott,
On winning the competition, Samira will receive:
A substantial cash reward.
A fully-funded solo show (or mixed bill) to be featured within Gilded Balloon's esteemed Fringe program.
A paid performance slot within the Comedy Arena and a weekend pass at Latitude Festival during the subsequent year, courtesy of Festival Republic.
A paid Friday performance slot at Glee Birmingham, inclusive of accommodation.
A complete weekend of compensated slots at the renowned Boat Show in London.
Two 7-minute appearances at the Just For Laughs London event.
Full coverage of expenses for recording and editing the debut solo show, subsequently accessible on the Next Up platform.
A professional headshot photoshoot by acclaimed photographer to the stars, Steve Ullathorne.
Video recording and professional photographs of their Final performance, offered complimentary for use in personal show-reels.
Mentorship and robust support from Karen and Katy Koren, along with the So You Think You’re Funny? team.
Notably, the finalists and runners-up will also receive:
Cash prizes for the first and second runners-up.
An opportunity to participate in a fully-sponsored mixed bill show integrated into Gilded Balloon’s Fringe program.
Dedicated mentorship and guidance from Karen and Katy Koren, and the So You Think You’re Funny? team.
In order to take part, entrants must not have performed more than 15 stand-up spots, not be under contract with any comedy agent or management company, must not have presented or planned to present a solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, not have participated in any previous editions of So You Think You’re Funny?, must present entirely original and self-written material and must be over the age of sixteen.
Want to catch some of the best now comedians? Book tickets for one of our London Comedy shows every Tuesday and Wednesday in Camden at Comedy in Your Eye.