Heidi Regan wins BBC Radio New Comedy prize
Heidi Regan said winning the award was a dream come true.
Australian comedian Heidi Regan has won the BBC Radio New Comedy Award 2017.
The London-based comic said she was “blown away” to have won the coveted prize, which includes £1,000 and a 15 minute script commission from BBC Studios.
The final of the competition, hosted by Mark Watson at the Edinburgh Fringe and broadcast live on BBC Radio 4, saw six finalists perform in front of a panel of judges comprised of comedians Hugh Dennis and Jenny Eclair, and Radio 4’s commissioning editor for comedy Sioned Wiliam.
The other five acts to make it through to the final were Andy Field, Morgan Rees, Jacob Hawley, Aaron Simmonds and Sikisa.
Regan said: “I feel completely blown away to have won, especially against such great competitors.
“It’s just amazing – a dream come true.”
Mark Watson, who hosted the final, said: “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!”
Regan and her fellow finalists will be mentored by the BBC Studios comedy team across the year and will receive guidance and the chance to write for and appear in slots across the BBC.
Previous winners and finalists include Alan Carr, Peter Kay, Sarah Millican, Lee Mack, Russell Howard, Julian Barratt, Josie Long, Shappi Khorsandi and Joe Lycett.
