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 often 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

Roland and Claire Muldoon pioneered "new variety", auditioning many of the acts that became the new wave of comedy and performance in the UK. The process evolved into the New Act of the Year Show produced by Claire and compered by Roland when they took over the Hackney Empire. It is currently produced by their new organisation, C&R Presentations, at the Hackney Empire.

Previous winners include: Stewart Lee, Ardal O'Hanlon and Linda Smith. Eddie Izzard only came third. Harry Hill is often quoted as a winner, but in fact he was only a finalist.

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

For 2007, auditions will run from Wed 7 to Tue 13 February (from 7:30pm) in the Marie Lloyd Bar on the ground floor. The final will be in the main theatre on 4 March.

There do not appear to be any restrictions on what constitutes a "new act".

[edit] Winners & finalists

2007

Luke Toulson - winner
Liz Carr - second
Gareth Richards - third
- Isma Almas - finalist
- Evie Anderson - finalist
- Tamika Campbell - finalist
- Crispin Flintoff - finalist
- Matt Grantham - finalist
- Dan Hoy - finalist
- Joe Kay - finalist
- Christian Lee - finalist
- Teak Show - finalist
- Holly Walsh - finalist
- David Whitney - finalist
- Maureen Younger - finalist

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 Wehn - winner
Matt Green - second
Papa CJ - third
- Gareth Berliner - finalist
- Simon Brodkin as Lee Nelson – finalist
- Stephen Carlin - finalist
- Janice Phayre - finalist
- Griff Griffiths - 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
- Verity Welch - 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