Notting Hill's The Tabernacle played host to the revived BBC Radio 2 New Comedy Award 2011, which originally ran from 1995 to 2001, last night. A throng of six hundred fresh-faced comedians were eventually whittled down to six, as fierce battles of wit and gags ensued, all trying to tickle the judges' funny bones.
Sarah Millican, a recipient of the prestigious Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, seasoned comic Stephen K Amos and Lewis Carnie, Head of Programmes for Radio 2 and 6 Music, fronted the judging panel. It was the public voted Angela Barnes who garnered the most laughs, receiving the winner's trophy and a slot to perform on Radio 2's Comedy Zone.
“This is a massive privilege and the fact it was a public vote makes it all the more special. It’s been an amazing journey with brilliant people and I hope this will open some doors and I look forward to gigging with my fellow finalists on the comedy circuit,” said Angela Barnes.
Previous winners include many familiar faces such chat-show host Alan Carr, Lee Mack and BBC's Good News host Russell Howard.
You can listen to Angela Barnes's performance here.
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