Chortle Awards

The Chortle awards were set up in 2002 by the comedy website Chortle to honour the best of established stand-up comics currently working in the UK. As of 2002, the Chortle Awards are the only UK-based awards that solely honour the live work of stand-up comedians at a professional level. A panel of reviewers draw up a shortlist, which is presented for public vote at the Chortle website.^[1]

2002

• Best touring comedian: Ross Noble (nominees: Bill Bailey, Rich Hall as Otis Lee Crenshaw, Al Murray)
• Best male circuit comedian: Daniel Kitson (nominees: Boothby Graffoe, Lee Mack, Phil Nichol)
• Best female circuit comedian: Jo Enright (nominees: Gina Yashere, Jo Caulfield, Julia Morris)
• Best open mic: Des Clarke (nominees: Rohan Agalawatta, Steve Williams, Miles Jupp)
• Best compère: Lee Mack (nominees: Simon Bligh, Boothby Graffoe, Lee Hurst)
• Best sketch or character act: The League of Gentlemen (nominees: Graham Fellows for John Shuttleworth and Brian Appleton, Garth Marenghi, Mackenzie Crook)
• Best contribution by a non-performer: Malcolm Hay, comedy editor, Time Out (nominees: Tommy Sheppard, director of The Stand comedy clubs, Don Ward founder of the Comedy Store, Agraman of The Buzz Club, Manchester)
• People's choice: Ross Noble (runner-up: Daniel Kitson)
• Comedians' comedian: Ross Noble (runner-up: Daniel Kitson)
• Outstanding contribution to comedy: Spike Milligan
• Best venues: London (large): Up The Creek (runner-up: The Comedy Store) London (small): Amused Moose Soho (runner-up: Loonatics at The Asylum) Scotland: Stand Glasgow (runner-up: Stand Edinburgh) North of England: XS Malarkey in Manchester (runner-up: Last Laugh in Sheffield) Midlands: Just the Tonic (runner-up: The Glee Club Birmingham) West/Wales: The Glee Club Cardiff (runner-up: Comedy Cavern, Bath) South: Komedia, Brighton (runner-up: Sanctum, Hove)

2003

• Best newcomer: Matthew Osborn (nominees: Greg Davies, Rhod Gilbert )
• Best compère: Chris Addison (nominees: Adam Hills, Dara Ó Briain)
• Breakthrough act: Rev Obadiah Steppenwolfe III (nominees: Hal Cruttenden, Micky Flanagan)
• Best headliner: Dara Ó Briain (nominees: Jimmy Carr, Phil Nichol)
• Best sketch, variety or character act: Garth Marenghi (nominees: Otis Lee Crenshaw, Rev Obadiah Steppenwolfe III)
• Best full-length solo show: Daniel Kitson: Something (nominees: Jimmy Carr: Bare-Faced Ambition, Dave Gorman: Dave Gorman's Better World)
• Best contribution by a non-performer: Karen Koren of Edinburgh's Gilded Balloon
• People's choice: Ross Noble
• Comedians' comedian: Daniel Kitson
• Outstanding contribution to comedy: Billy Connolly
• Best venues: London (large): The Comedy Store, London (small): Amused Moose Soho, Scotland: Stand Glasgow, North of England: XS Malarkey, Manchester, Midlands: Just The Tonic, West/Wales: The Glee Club Cardiff, South: Komedia, Brighton

2004

• Best newcomer: Waen Shepherd as Gary Le Strange (nominees: Stuart Hudson, Tom Wrigglesworth)
• Best compère: Adam Hills (nominees: Stephen K Amos, Jo Caulfield)
• Breakthrough act: Alex Horne (nominees: Lucy Porter, Will Smith)
• Best headliner: Dara Ó Briain (nominees: Adam Hills, Reginald D Hunter)
• Best sketch, variety or character act: Justin Edwards as Jeremy Lion (nominees: Flight Of The Conchords, Oram and Meeten)
• Award for innovation: Dave Gorman (nominees: Alfie Joey for his Mini Cabaret, Howard Read)
• Best full-length solo show: Dave Gorman Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure (nominees: Demetri Martin: If I..., Dara Ó Briain: I Am Not An Animal)
• Best contribution by a non-performer: Hannah Chambers of Comedy Cafe Management (nominees: Agraman The Buzz Manchester, Simon Randall Ha Bloody Ha/Headliners London)
• People's choice: Daniel Kitson
• Comedians' comedian: Daniel Kitson
• Student Comic Of The Year: Lloyd Langford
• Best venues: London (large): Comedy Store, London (small): Amused Moose, North of England: XS Malarkey Manchester, South of England: Komedia Brighton, East/Midlands: The Glee Club Birmingham, West of England/Wales: Comedy Cavern Bath, Scotland: The Stand Edinburgh

2005

• Best newcomer: Josie Long (nominees: Russell Kane, Isy Suttie)
• Best compère: Daniel Kitson (nominees: Alun Cochrane, Adam Hills)
• Breakthrough act: Rhod Gilbert (nominees: Alun Cochrane, Mark Watson)
• Best headliner Will Smith (nominees: Chris Addison, Andrew Maxwell)
• People's Choice: Daniel Kitson
• Comics' Comic: Andrew Maxwell
• Best sketch, variety or character act: Flight Of The Conchords (nominees: Jeremy Lion, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players)
• Award for innovation: Mark Watson for his Overambitious 24-Hour Show (nominees: Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Wil Hodgson)
• Best full-length solo show: Daniel Kitson's Edinburgh show (nominees: Will Smith: 10 Arguments I Should Have Won, Bill Bailey: Part Troll)
• Best off-stage contribution: Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood, of The Underbelly, Edinburgh
• Lifetime achievement award: Malcolm Hardee
• Venue Awards: North of England: XS Malarkey, Manchester, South of England: The Komedia, Brighton, Midlands: Just The Tonic, Nottingham, Scotland: The Stand, Edinburgh, West and Wales: The Glee Club, Cardiff, London, large venue: The Comedy Store, London, small venue: Comedy Camp

2006

• Best newcomer: James Branch (nominees: Lee Bannard, Sarah Millican)
• Best breakthrough act: Jason Manford (nominees: Hal Cruttenden, Josie Long)
• Best compère: Russell Howard (nominees: Alfie Joey, Andrew Maxwell)
• Best headliner: Daniel Kitson (nominees: Alan Carr, Stewart Lee)
• Best sketch, variety or character act: Justin Edwards as Jeremy Lion (nominees: Tim Minchin, We Are Klang)
• Best full-length solo show: Daniel Kitson Daniel Kitson’s Edinburgh stand-up show, (nominees: Stewart Lee Stewart Lee: 90s Comedian, Tim Minchin Tim Minchin: Dark Side)
• Award For Innovation: Robin Ince's Book Club
• Best Off-Stage Contribution: Malcolm Hay, comedy editor of Time Out
• Outstanding Contribution to Comedy: Stewart Lee
• People's Choice: Daniel Kitson
• Comics' Comic: Daniel Kitson
• Venue Awards: Scotland: The Pleasance, The North of England: Funny Magnet, Middlesbrough, Midlands and East: The Funhouse, Derby, Wales and the West: The Glee Club, Cardiff, South of England: Komedia, Brighton, London small: Outside The Box, Kingston, London large: The Comedy Store

2007

• Best Newcomer: Carl Donnelly (nominees: Arnab Chanda, Ginger and Black, Pappy's Fun Club)
• Best Breakthrough: Josie Long (nominees: Greg Davies, Paul Sinha, Shappi Khorsandi)
• Best Compère: Robin Ince (nominees: Jarred Christmas, Mark Watson, Stephen K Amos)
• Best Headliner: Jason Byrne (nominees: Michael McIntyre, Phil Nichol , Reginald D. Hunter)
• Best Sketch, Variety or Character Act: We Are Klang (nominees: Count Arthur Strong, Jeremy Lion, Joanna Neary)
• Best Full Length Feature Show: The Mighty Boosh Tour (nominees: Doug Stanhope, Mark Thomas: As Used On The Famous Nelson Mandela, We Are Klang: Klang Bang)
• Award for innovation: Free Fringe (nominees: James Campbell’s Comedy 4 Kids, Maxwell’s Full Mooners, Tim Fitzhigham)
• Best Off-stage contribution: Free Fringe (nominees: BAC, Brett Vincent, Alex Rochford and Paul Byrne for Maxwell’s Full Mooners, Toby Hadoke for XS Malarkey)
• Outstanding contribution to comedy: Linda Smith
• Venue Awards: Scotland: The Stand, Edinburgh, The North: Long Live Comedy, Newcastle, Midlands and East: Spa-Tickes, Leamington Spa, Wales and the West: Glee Club, Cardiff, South: Comedy Cottage, Redhill, London small: The Funny Side Of Covent Garden, London large: The Comedy Store

2008

• Best Newcomer: Holly Walsh (nominees: Nat Luurtsema, Greg McHugh, Jack Whitehall)
• Breakthrough act: Jon Richardson (nominees: Tom Basden, Lloyd Langford, Terry Saunders)
• Best compère: Stephen Grant (nominees: Stephen K Amos, Jarred Christmas, Greg Davies)
• Best headliner: Michael McIntyre (nominees: Rhod Gilbert, Jim Jeffries, Glenn Wool)
• Sketch, variety or character act: Pappy's Fun Club (nominees: Fat Tongue, Lee Fenwick as Mick Sergeant, Ugly Kid)
• Best full show: Stewart Lee: 41st Best Stand-Up (nominees: Tom Basden Won't Say Anything, Psister Psycho, Terry Saunders: Missed Connection)
• Award for innovation: Laughter In Odd Places (nominees: Arthur Smith for ArthurArt, Gently Progressive Behemoth (Edinburgh show), We Need Answers (Edinburgh show))
• Best theatre tour: Dara Ó Briain (nominees: Alan Carr: Tooth Fairy, Al Murray at the London Palladium, Frank Skinner)
• Offstage contribution: Toby Hadoke of XS Malarkey, Manchester
• Award for artistic integrity: Hans Teeuwen
• Outstanding contribution to comedy: The I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue team
• Venue Awards: London (large): Comedy Store, London (small) : Falling Down With Laughter, South: Komedia, Midlands/East: Derby Funhouse, Wales and the West: The Glee Club, Cardiff, North: XS Malarkey, Manchester, Scotland: Edinburgh Stand

2009

• PIAS Comedy Award for best newcomer: Seann Walsh (nominees: Mike Wozniak, Pippa Evans, Daniel Simonsen)
• Breakthrough act: Sarah Millican (nominees: Andrew O'Neill, Bridget Christie, Carl Donnelly)
• Award for innovation: Robin Ince for Nine Lessons And Carols For Godless People
• Sketch, variety or character act: Tim Minchin (nominees: Count Arthur Strong, Pippa Evans, Wilson Dixon)
• Award for artistic integrity: John Hegley
• Best off-stage contribution: Michael Legge for his blog
• Student Comedy Award: Joe Lycett
• FremantleMedia Enterprises award for best headliner: Rhod Gilbert (nominees: Andrew Maxwell, Paul Sinha, Milton Jones)
• Best compere: Rufus Hound (nominees: Dan Nightingale, Alun Cochrane, Stephen Grant)
• Best full show: Tim Minchin: Ready For This (nominees: Rhod Gilbert And The Award-Winning Mince Pie, Richard Herring: The Headmaster's Son, David O'Doherty: Let's Comedy)
• Best theatre show: Russell Howard: Dingledodies (nominees: Dylan Moran: This Is It, Dara O'Briain, Frankie Boyle)
• Best use of stand-up on TV or radio: Live At The Apollo (nominees: Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better, 4 Stands Up, Another Case Of Milton Jones
• Best DVD: Dara O Briain Talks Funny ( nominees: Stewart Lee: 41st Best Stand-up, Tim Minchin: So Fucking Rock, Frank Skinner Stand-Up)
• Outstanding contribution to comedy: The Just A Minute team
• Venue awards: Scotland: Stand, Edinburgh, The North: XS Malarkey, Manchester, Midlands and The East: Glee, Birmingham, Wales and The West: Glee, Cardiff, The South: Komedia, Brighton, London large venue: Soho Theatre, London small venue: Porthole Comedy Club, Kilburn

2010

• Best newcomer, sponsored by Impressive PR: Joe Lycett (nominees: Ivo Graham, Naz Osmanaglu, Gareth Richards)
• Breakthrough act, sponsored by PIAS: Kevin Bridges (nominees: Angelos Epithamou, Pete Johansson, Seann Walsh)
• Best headliner: Sarah Millican (nominees: Milton Jones, Andrew Lawrence, Phil Nichol)
• Best compere: Jarred Christmas (nominees: Dan Atkinson, Jason Cook, Stephen Grant)
• Sketch or character act: Idiots Of Ants (nominees: Angelos Epithemiou, Colin Hoult, Pajama Men)
• Music or variety act: Tim Minchin (nominees: Wilson Dixon, Frisky & Mannish, Hans Teeuwen)
• Offstage contribution: Nica Burns
• Venue Awards: Scotland - Edinburgh Stand, The North - XS Malarkey, Midlands and the East - Glee Birmingham, Wales and the West - Komedia Bath, The South - Upstairs At The Three And Ten, London large - Tabernacle, London small - Knock 2 Bag at Bar FM
• Best show: Tom Wrigglesworth's Open Return Letter To Richard Branson (nominees: The Hotel, Kim Noble Will Die, Louis CK, Pajama Men: Last Stand To Reason)
• Award for innovation: Kim Noble
• Best tour: Michael McIntyre (nominees: Simon Amstell: Do Nothing, Russell Brand: Scandalous, Dylan Moran: What It Is)
• TV and radio award : Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow (nominees: The News Quiz, Russell Howard's Good News, Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle)
• Best DVD: Rhod Gilbert's Award-Winning Mince Pie (nominees: Ed Byrne: Different Class, Louis CK: Chewed Up, Dylan Moran: What It Is)
• Outstanding Contribution to comedy: Amando Iannucci

2011

• Best newcomer: Diane Spencer (nominees: Henry Ginsberg, Iain Stirling, Tim Shishodia)
• Breakthrough act: The Boy With Tape On His Face (nominees: Josh Widdicombe, Nick Helm, Stuart Goldsmith)
• Best headliner: Milton Jones (nominees: Andrew Lawrence, Craig Campbell, Tom Stade)
• Best compere: Stephen Grant (nominees: Jason Cook, Seann Walsh, Susan Calman)
• Character or sketch act: Late Night Gimp Fight (nominees: Adam Riches, Jonny Sweet, Tom Binns as Ian D Montford)
• Music or variety act: Tim Minchin (nominees: The Boy With Tape On His Face, Raymond & Mr Timpkins Revue, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical)
• Best show: Kevin Eldon Is Titting About (nominees: Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words, Des Bishop: My Dad Was Nearly James Bond, Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog, Russell Kane: Smokescreens and Castles)
• Best tour: Tim Minchin and His Orchestra (nominees: Bill Bailey: Dandelion Mind, Dara O Briain, Lee Mack)
• Best DVD: Stewart Lee: If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One (nominees: Bill Bailey: Dandelion Mind, Simon Amstell: Do Nothing, Tim Minchin: Ready For This)
• TV and radio award: Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow (nominees: Getting On, News Quiz, The Trip)
• Internet award: Richard Herring: As It Occurs To Me podcast (nominees: Alan Partridge: Mid Morning Matters, Gary Delaney's Twitter feed, The Peacock & Gamble Podcast)
• Offstage contribution: Karen Koren of the Gilded Balloon
• Award For Innovation: Invisible Dot
• Venue Awards: Best purpose-built venue in London: Comedy Store, London: 99 Club Leicester Square, South: Brighton Komedia, Midlands and East: Birmingham Glee Club, Wales and the West: Cardiff Glee Club, North: Manchester Comedy Store, Scotland: The Stand Edinburgh
• Judges' Award: Chris Sievey for Frank Sidebottom
• Outstanding Contribution To Comedy: Victoria Wood
• Student Comedy Award: Adam Hess

2012

In 2012, Charlie Brooker won the TV award for Black Mirror and his work on 10 O'Clock Live, while Stewart Lee was awarded "best standup DVD" for the second series of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle. Lee's former comic partner Richard Herring won the internet award. Dylan Moran won "best tour", Tim Key was awarded "best show", and Simon Munnery received the award for innovation.^[2] Prior to the awards, Chortle responded to accusations of sexism (of 54 nominees, only two were women). Editor Steve Bennett described the controversy as "a storm we never saw coming."^[3]

Results^[4]

• Best newcomer: Patrick Cahill (nominees: Mark Cooper-Jones, Mark Stephenson, Matt Rees)
• Breakthrough act: Tony Law (nominees: Adam Riches, Humphrey Ker, Sam Simmons)
• Club comic: Alun Cochrane (nominees: Adam Bloom, Dana Alexander, Hal Cruttenden, Michael Fabbri)
• Compere: Susan Calman (nominees: Jimmy McGhie, Ray Peacock, Toby Hadoke)
• Character or sketch act: Idiots of Ants (nominees: Adam Riches, Beta Males, Humphrey Ker)
• Variety and music award: The Rubberbandits (nominees: Kunt and the Gang, La Soirée, New Art Club)
• Best show: Tim Key, Masterslut (nominees: Bring Me the Head Of Adam Riches; Doug Stanhope; Sam Simmons, Meanwhile)
• Best tour: Dylan Moran, Yeah, Yeah (nominees: Dave Gorman's Powerpoint Presentation; Jerry Seinfeld's European tour; Mark Thomas, Walking the Wall; Stephen Merchant, Hello Ladies)
• TV award: Charlie Brooker (nominees: Fresh Meat, Sorry, I've Got No Head, Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle)
• Radio award: The Infinite Monkey Cage (nominees: Danny Baker, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme, Party)
• Internet award: Richard Herring (nominees: Business Mouse, Do the Right Thing, The Fast Show)
• Best stand-up DVD: Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle, Series 2 (nominees: Dylan Moran, Yeah, Yeah; Greg Davies, Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog, Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra Live at the Albert Hall)
• Venue awards: The Comedy Store (London, purpose-built); 99 Club, Leicester Square (London club); Komedia, Brighton (The South); Komedia, Bath (Wales and the West); The Glee Club, Birmingham (Midlands and the East); XS Malarkey (The North); The Pleasance (Scotland)
• Award for innovation: Simon Munnery for La Concepta (nominees: Sanderson Jones for comedysale.com, Set List, The Wrestling)
• Offstage contribution: Mick Perrin
• Outstanding contribution to comedy: John Lloyd

2013

Results

• Best Newcomer: Lucy Beaumont (nominees: Adam Hess, Sunil Patel, Tommy Rowson)
• Student Comedy Award: Rio Bauer (runners-up Nathan Willcock and Adam Todd. finalists: Conor Neville, Tim Renkow, Evelyn Mok, Matilda Wnek and Richard Perry)
• Breakthrough Act: Doctor Brown (nominees: Pat Cahill, Daniel Simonsen, David Trent)
• Club Comic: Tony Law (nominees: Susan Calman, Phil Nichol, Paul Sinha)
• Best Compere: Susan Calman (nominees: Jarred Christmas, Joe Lycett, Jonathan Mayor)
• Character or Sketch Act: Pappy's (nominees: Doctor Brown, Brian Gittins, Marcel Lucont)
• Music And Variety Award: The Boy With Tape On His Face (nominees: The Horne Section, Loretta Maine, The Rubberbandits)
• Best Show: Tony Law: Maximum Nonsense (nominees: Susan Calman: This Lady's Not For Turning, Jim Jefferies: Fully Functional, Pappy's: Last Show Ever)
• Best Tour: Stewart Lee: Carpet Remnant World (nominees: Boy With Tape On His Face: More Tape, Greg Davies: The Back Of My Mum's Head, Mark Thomas: Bravo Figaro)
• Best DVD: Fist Of Fun. Series 2 (nominees: Louis CK: Live At The Beacon, Stewart Lee: Carpet Remnant World)
• TV Award: The Thick Of It (nominees: Alan Partridge: the Sky Atlantic specials, Fresh Meat, Peep Show)
• Radio Award: John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme (nominees: Irish Micks And Legends, The Horne Section, The News Quiz)
• Internet Award: Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (nominees: Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown, Peacock & Gamble's Edinburgh podcast, Stuart Goldsmith: The Comedians' Comedian Podcast)
• Award For Innovation: Louis CK for cutting out the middle man (nominees: Alternative Comedy Memorial Society, Weirdo's comedy club)
• Lifetime Achievement: Galton & Simpson (Hancock's Half Hour, Steptoe & Son)
• Off-Stage Contribution: Tommy Sheppard, The Stand
• Venues: The Comedy Store (London), The 99 Club (London), Komedia (Brighton), Glee (Birmingham), Komedia (Bath), XS Malarkey (Manchester) and The Pleasance (Scotland)

External links

• Official website

References