The prize will be awarded to up-and-coming talent on the comedy circuit.
In 2021, we sadly lost the comic genius of Sean Lock. A fixture on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, the beloved comedian’s career also encompassed stand-up and scripted comedy.
Now, in his memory, Channel 4 has announced The Sean Lock Comedy Award to showcase talented new writers and performers “who embody the alternative comedic spirit of Sean and Channel 4”.
The recipient of the award gains a unique opportunity to kickstart their career in TV comedy. They’ll receive £5,000 to support their live work as well as a script commission from Channel 4’s comedy team and writer shadowing on Channel 4’s comedy entertainment shows. Plus, a £1,000 commission to write a script for Channel 4’s digital strand. They will also receive support and mentoring sessions from Channel 4’s commissioning teams.
As part of the award, Channel 4 has worked with several live comedy venues and promoters across the UK to nominate and shortlist a group of standout finalists. They are all up-and-coming talents on the comedy circuit, taking their next steps into the wider world of writing and performing.
The following finalists have been invited to perform live at a comedy event this week to celebrate the award:
Alex Bertulis-Fernandes
Mamoun Elagab
Kyrah Gray
Kuan-wen Huang
Christopher Macarthur-Boyd
Tadiwa Mahlunge
Mike Rice
Eric Rushton
Lorna Rose Treen
Anna Thomas
Lily Webb
The winner of the award will be announced in due course. All eleven finalists also get the opportunity to meet with a Channel 4 comedy commissioner for a mentoring session.
Comedian and Sean’s friend, Bill Bailey, who helped Channel 4 to create The Sean Lock Comedy Award said:
“I am delighted that Channel 4 have created The Sean Lock Comedy Award. It’s a way to honour Sean’s memory and to inspire others to pursue their own unique comic brilliance.”
Damon Pettitt from Off The Kerb and Sean’s former agent said:
“I hope the recipient proves to be a worthy winner and shows the same integrity, work ethic and eye for the absurd, in both writing and performance so evident in Sean’s fine body of work.”
Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy at Channel 4 said:
“Channel 4 are honoured to have collaborated with Sean’s friends and family on our first comedy scheme that melds the genres of scripted, entertainment and digital together. Combining a love for Sean’s polymathy and supporting and nurturing new generations of homegrown comedy talent, we’re proud as hell to be part of this award. Thank you so much to our passionate nomination panel for giving up their time to help stretch our tendrils out across the UK. It’s an incredible shortlist and we can’t wait to see what they all get up to next. To Sean!”
You can read more about the award here at Channel 4.