Local comedian Tom Barker has been crowned 2026’s Beat The Frog winner in Manchester.
Irish comedian Chris Watts was voted runner up. German Indian stand up Abi Mohanty took the panel prize as awarded by comedy industry experts.
The Grand Final was the culmination of the year-long search for new comedy talent at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club in Manchester. Previously known as the World Series, it’s now simply the Beat the Frog Comedy Competition.
The other finalists were: Swedish Ethiopian comedian now settled in Britain, Selam Amare, who provides a fresh perspective on the UK and dating white men. South Londoner with Mauritian roots, Yovan Chamroo has a set that has a brilliant take on his country’s colonial history. London-based roofer Ellie Cox has a wonderful off-the-wall style and is banned from every karaoke venue in the UK and Ireland apparently. London-based Nigerian and former wildlife scientist Onojie Idemudia, who likes cooking Nigerian food for his new-found London fox friends. Scottish comedian Matty Ross with fab routines on the language differences between Aberdeen and Dundee. British Sri Lankan comedian Gaj San performs a sharp set of jokes coupled with a brilliant visual running gag. Fresh from his rural Derbyshire home, Sam Strachan has a fine line in silly gags and plays on words.
Last year’s winner was Madeleine Brettingham who also won So You Think You’re Funny? and who went on to perform a critically acclaimed debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
The list of World Series alumni over the years is impressive: Finalist Ciara O’Connor was one of the runners up in So You Think You’re Funny?, went on to be BBC New Comedy Award finalist and has written for Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. Irish Indian comedian Dane Buckley won in 2022 and is now the co-host of the hugely popular Welcome to Hell podcast, was a finalist in the BBC Comedy Award last year and his Edinburgh Fringe debut this year was nominated for the ISH newcomer award. 2020’s winner Dan Tiernan went on to win the BBC New Comedy Award, has many TV appearances under his belt.
Pictured: Beat The Frog Grand Final Winners 2026 by Liz Baker (Abi Mohanty, Tom Barker, Chris Watts)
