Edinburgh Fringe Best Show Winner and Taskmaster star Sam Campbell
Hailing all the way from sunny Queensland, Sam Campbell is a jack-of-all-trades in the comedy world. He's a live stand-up performer, and he also creates hilarious web shows that are pure comedy gold. In fact, he even had a short series that aired on Comedy Central Australia and made a guest appearance on ABC TV's The Checkout. Talk about spreading laughter far and wide!
Sam's comedic talents have earned him some well-deserved recognition. In 2015, he snagged the prestigious best newcomer award, and then in 2018, he took home the highly coveted most outstanding show award, known as "The Barry," at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The audience couldn't get enough of his side-splitting performances!
But hold on tight, because the excitement didn't stop there. In 2022, Sam emerged as the ultimate winner of the main prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards during the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His show, aptly titled Comedy Show, blew everyone away with its originality, surrealism, and unexpected jokes. The judges couldn't help but shower it with praise. And it's not just the judges who loved it — The Times raved about Sam's "nutball" persona, noting how he manages to control his loopiness with deceptive precision. They even described his show as "exhausting, exhilarating, and a touch of genius." Now that's high praise!
Other esteemed critics also couldn't resist Sam's comedic charm. Brian Logan from The Guardian marvelled at Sam's wonderfully adhesive images and the core of robust observational comedy hidden beneath his loopiness. Logan recognized Sam's unique style, labeling him as an "impish and idiosyncratic" comedy maverick who isn't afraid to stand out from the crowd. It's no wonder Sam's award-winning show was performed after midnight and only in the second half of the Edinburgh Fringe—an attitude that truly signals his non-mainstream brilliance.
The Daily Telegraph review highlighted the sheer joy Sam's comedy brings. They praised his one-liners and absurdist whirls of madcap humor, all delivered with a casual, just-passing-the-time insouciance. The amusement motors along so quickly, with unexpected twists and turns, that it reaches a state of uncontrollable hilarity. Laughter truly knows no bounds when Sam takes the stage!
In February 2023, Sam received yet another feather in his cap. He was nominated in the best stand-up category for his show Comedy Show at the UK National Comedy Awards. The recognition keeps pouring in for this comedic superstar!
Sam was also a contestant on the sixteenth series of the beloved Channel 4 comedy gameshow, Taskmaster and was absolutely hilarious in it!
Sam Campbell is undoubtedly a comedic force to be reckoned with, spreading laughter wherever he goes. Keep an eye out for this comedic dynamo, because he's sure to brighten your day with his hilarious antics!
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