Hackney Empire New Act of the Year

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.

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.

Rules and eligibility

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

Winners & finalists

2008
* Steve Weiner - winner
* Pippa Evans as Loretta Maine - second
* Andi Osho - third
** Rachel Boxall - finalist
** Dylan Bray - finalist
** Pat Burtscher - finalist
** Brothers Gribble - finalist
** The Heresy Project - finalist
** Gerry Howell - finalist
** Emannual Kenallos as Manos the Greek - finalist
** Frank Sanazi - finalist
** Kate Smurthwaite - finalist
** Christian Steel - finalist
** Vikki Stone - finalist
** Jack Whitehall - finalist
** Imran Yusuf - finalist

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
* Ava Vidal – third equal
** Jaik Campbell – finalist
** Roisin Conaty – finalist
** Nelson David – finalist
** James Goldbury – finalist
** Pablo – finalist
** Del Strain – finalist
** Reverend Dick Tate – finalist
** Vinell, Camel, Kiernan – finalist

2003
* Matt Kirshen – winner
* Rhod Gilbert – second
** Simon Amstell – finalist
** Del Strain – finalist
** Ross Wagman - 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
** Graeme Casey - finalist

2001
* Men in Coats – winner
** Les Hommes Sans Noms (Andy Sinclair and Jim Woodcock- finalist
** James Holmes – finalist
** Inder Manocha - finalist
** Adrian Poynton - finalist

2000
* Paul Hickman – winner
* Mark Felgate – second
** Russell Brand – finalist
** Rob Deering – finalist
** Francesca Martinez – finalist
** The Funjabis – finalist

1999
* Paul Sinha – runner-up
** Mary Bourke – finalist
** Shirley Goorwich - finalist

1998
* Hitchcock’s Half Hour (Neil Cole and Tom Hillenbrand) - winner
* Daniel Kitson -second
**Catherine Tate - finalist
** Susan Vale - finalist

1997
* Jon Reed – winner

1996
* Noel Britten – winner
** Gina Yashere - finalist

1994
* Ardal O'Hanlon - winner

1993
* Ronnie Ancona - winner
* Tim Vine – runner-up
** Pommy Johnson - finalist
** Simon Lipson - finalist
** Ben Miller - finalist
** Jack Russell - finalist

1991
* Paul Tonkinson - winner
** Nick Wilty - finalist
** Neville Raven - finalist
** Martin Davies - finalist

1990
* Stewart Lee - winner

1987
* Linda Smith – winner

External links

* [http://www.hackneyempire.co.uk Hackney Empire official site]
* [http://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/show_details.php?show=49 Details for 2007]