Hackney Empire New Act of the Year

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The Hackney Empire New Act of the Year is a long-running annual competition run at the Hackney Empire theatre in London in order to encourage, discover and promote new stand-up comedy talent.

The best three or four acts appear later that year in a showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

1 History
2 Rules and eligibility
3 Winners & finalists
4 External links

[edit] History

Previous winners include: Harry Hill, Stewart Lee, Ardal O'Hanlon and Linda Smith. Eddie Izzard only came thrid.

The final has been compered for many years by Arthur Smith.

The 2006 final was considered to be "the best since 1994" according to William Cook of The Guardian.

[edit] Rules and eligibility

Auditions are in January every year, with the final in late February. There do not appear to be any restrictions on what constitutes a "new act", but acts may only enter once.

[edit] Winners & finalists

2006

Joe Wilkinson - winner
Diane Morgan - second
Stuart Goldsmith - third
- Paul H Allen - finalist
- Matt Devereux - finalist
- Duncan Edwards - finalist
- Michael Fabbri - finalist
- Helen Keen - finalist
- Sarah Louise King - finalist
- Martine Pepper - finalist
- Ray Presto - finalist
- Stanley Silver - finalist
- Al Stick - finalist
- Tomi Walamies - finalist
- Robert White - finalist

2005

Henning When - winner
Matt Green - second
Papa CJ - third
- Gareth Berliner - finalist
- Simon Brodkin as Lee Nelson – finalist
- Stephen Carlin - finalist
- Janice Phayre - finalist

2004

Peter Aterman – winner
Kerry Godliman - second
Drew Cameron – third equal
Ava Vidal – third equal
- Jaik Campbell – finalist
- Roisin Conaty – finalist
- Nelson David – finalist
- James Goldbury – finalist
- Pablo – finalist
- Del Strain – finalist
- Reverend Dick Tate (Johnny Hansler) – finalist
- Vinell, Camel, Kiernan – finalist

2003

Matt Kirshen – winner
Rhod Gilbert – second
- Simon Amstell – finalist
- Del Strain – finalist

2002

Graham Anthony – winner
Nina Conti – second
- Steve Day – finalist
- Henrik Elmer - finalist
- Vicky Frango – finalist
- Patrick Monahan – finalist
- Dave Palmer aka Dave Dynamite – finalist

2001

Men in Coats – winner
- Les Hommes Sans Noms (Andy Sinclair and Jim Woodcock) - finalist
- James Holmes – finalist
- Inder Manocha - finalist

2000

Paul Hickman – winner
Mark Felgate – second
- Russell Brand – finalist
- Rob Deering – finalist
- Francesca Martinez – finalist
- The Funjabis – finalist

1999