The annual Leicester Comedy Festival Awards took place tonight, honouring the comedians, venues and promoters that make this festival the largest and most successful comedy festival in Europe. The VIP awards ceremony took place in Leicester and was hosted by comedian Scott Bennett.
This year, beloved comedian Arthur Smith won the annual Legend of Comedy Award. He said “I turned down a knighthood and a Nobel peace prize but I am delighted and very honoured to receive this Legend of Comedy award from the fabulous Leicester Comedy Festival. I have had so many laughs over the years at the festival and caught up with so many fellow comedians. Leicester is the only place to be in February”. Previous legends have included Stewart Lee, Jo Brand, Nicholas Parsons, Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Rik Mayall, Nicholas Parsons, Ken Dodd and Sir Norman Wisdom.
Leicester Comedy Festival Founder, Geoff Rowe, said “we were all so delighted and proud to be able to recognise members of the festivals community at the ceremony last night. Leicester Comedy Festival has only been able to grow and develop over the last 30 years due to the massive commitment and support from all sorts of people and organisations and our awards ceremony is our chance to thank them and acknowledge what they do. It was great to see so many festival friends at the event and hand out the trophies. I was especially thrilled this year to be able to recognise the contribution Arthur Smith has made to British comedy and present him with the Legend of Comedy Award.”
Other award winners at the ceremony included Stuart Goldsmith for the Best Show, Shelf for the Best Kids Show, Bethany Black (pictured) for the Best New Show, Firebug for the Liberty/Spirit of the Festival award and King Richard III pub for the Best New Venue. Festival Founder Geoff Rowe was presented with a Lifetime Contribution award.
Charlotte Laidet, Festivals and Programme Director of Leicester Comedy Festival said “‘It’s an honour to bestow the Lifetime Contribution Award to Geoff Rowe, this festival wouldn’t exist without him. It has been an inspiration working alongside him and the whole team at Big Difference Company wish him luck for his future endeavours’”
The awards, now in their 17th year, recognised contributions to this year’s Festival across a host of categories including awards for Best Improv/Music Show, Best Large Venue, Best Small Venue, Student of the Year, which is awarded to DMU students, Best Promoter, Tracey Miller Community Award, and Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival 2023.
Leicester Comedy Festival 2023 was a success, bringing live comedy to enthusiastic crowds travelling from all over the country and Europe. One comedy fan even enjoyed over 77 live shows across the 19 day period!
The full list of award winners are listed below:
Best Debut Show
Winner: Fatiha El-Ghorri: Work in Progress
Best New Show
Winner: Bethany Black: Always bet on Beth
Best Show
Winner: Stuart Goldsmith: Spoilers (WIP)
Best Music or Improv Show
Winner: CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation
Best Kids Show
Winner: Shelf: The Kids’ Show
Contribution to LCF 2023
Winner: Peril Design
Tracey Miller Community Award
Winner: Menphys
Liberty Award
Winner: Firebug
Best Small Venue
Winner: The Black Horse
Best Large Venue
Winner: The Y Theatre
Best New Venue
Winner: King Richard III pub
Business contribution
Winner: Sturgess
Student of the Year
Winner: Cezara Buburuzanu
Best Promoter
Winner: TripleCeePee
Legend of Comedy
Winner: Arthur Smith
Lifetime Contribution to Leicester Comedy Festival
Winner: Geoff Rowe
Leicester Comedy Festival & The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival will return from 7-25 February 2024. Both the Gala Preview Show and Kids’ Gala Preview are now on sale. For tickets visit www.comedy-festival.co.uk
