City Life Comedian of the Year
Encyclopedia
The City Life Comedian of the Year competition is held annually in Manchester
, and sponsored by the City Life
magazine.
The competition began in 1990, and has become one of the most prestigious comedy awards in the North West of England, mostly based on the subsequent success of many of its entrants and winners.
The competition is open to all, and early heats often have a broad mix of talent and ability. From each heat, the entrants are whittled down to eight finalists.
In the first year, the competition was won by Caroline Aherne
, who went on to create Mrs Merton and The Royle Family
and in subsequent years all three writers of the successful sitcom Phoenix Nights - Peter Kay
, Dave Spikey
and Neil Fitzmaurice
- won the competition. Notable runners-up include Dave Gorman
, Archie Kelly
and Johnny Vegas
.
1991 - Dave Spikey
1992 - Shared by Stan Vernon and Paul Glasswell
1993 - Tony Mills (now Tony Burgess
)
1994 - Dave Rothnie
1995 - Chris Addison
1996 - Peter Kay
1997 - Shared by Neil Anthony (now Neil Fitzmaurice) and Dom Carroll
1998 - Steve Harris
1999 - Jason Manford
2000 - Justin Moorhouse
2001 - John Bishop
2002 - Phil Walker
2003 - Seymour Mace
2004 - John Warburton
2005 - Andy Watson
2006 - Vince Atta
2007 - Tim Craven
2008 - Eddie Hoo
2009 - no competition
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and sponsored by the City Life
City Life (Magazine)
City Life was a Manchester-based listings magazine that was published between December 1983 and December 2005. It was a distinctive blend of radical politics and coverage of the increasingly exciting Manchester youth culture scene of the early 1980s, coinciding with the rise of Factory Records and...
magazine.
The competition began in 1990, and has become one of the most prestigious comedy awards in the North West of England, mostly based on the subsequent success of many of its entrants and winners.
The competition is open to all, and early heats often have a broad mix of talent and ability. From each heat, the entrants are whittled down to eight finalists.
In the first year, the competition was won by Caroline Aherne
Caroline Aherne
Caroline Mary Aherne is an English comedian and BAFTA winning writer and actress, best known for Mrs Merton and The Royle Family.- Background :...
, who went on to create Mrs Merton and The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
and in subsequent years all three writers of the successful sitcom Phoenix Nights - Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
, Dave Spikey
Dave Spikey
Dave Spikey is an English comedian, actor, writer and film producer, currently residing in Chorley, Lancashire....
and Neil Fitzmaurice
Neil Fitzmaurice
Neil Fitzmaurice is an English actor, comedian and writer.-Writing:Fitzmaurice's writing projects include That Peter Kay Thing, for which he received a British Comedy Award, and the critically acclaimed Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, in which he also appeared as "Ray-Von".Neil has also written two...
- won the competition. Notable runners-up include Dave Gorman
Dave Gorman
David James Gorman is an English author, stand-up comedian and presenter. He has performed comedy shows on stage in which he tells stories of extreme adventures and presents the evidence to the audience in order to prove to them that they are true stories...
, Archie Kelly
Archie Kelly
Archibald "Archie" Kelly was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre forward. He is best remembered for his time with Motherwell, his goals helping the side to their first victories in both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup...
and Johnny Vegas
Johnny Vegas
Johnny Vegas is an English actor and comedian. He is known for his angry rants, portly figure, high husky voice and support of St Helens rugby league club. More recently he has moved into dramatic acting.-Early life:He was born in St Helens, Lancashire, the youngest of four children of Laurence...
.
Winners
1990 - Sister Mary Immaculate (Caroline Aherne)1991 - Dave Spikey
1992 - Shared by Stan Vernon and Paul Glasswell
1993 - Tony Mills (now Tony Burgess
Tony Burgess
Tony Burgess is the author of several books including the novel Pontypool Changes Everything. Other works include People Live Still in Cashtown Corners, Ravenna Gets, The Hellmouths of Bewdley, and Caesarea...
)
1994 - Dave Rothnie
1995 - Chris Addison
Chris Addison
Chris Addison is an English stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4...
1996 - Peter Kay
1997 - Shared by Neil Anthony (now Neil Fitzmaurice) and Dom Carroll
1998 - Steve Harris
Steve Harris
Steve Harris may refer to:* Steve Harris , founding member and bassist of the band Iron Maiden* Steve Harris , American film and TV actor* Steve Harris , American basketball player...
1999 - Jason Manford
Jason Manford
Jason John Manford is an English comedian, television presenter and actor.- Early life :Manford was born to an Irish family in Salford, Greater Manchester, a son of Sharon , who is a Catholic and Ian Manford. He grew up in poverty in a terraced house in Manchester...
2000 - Justin Moorhouse
2001 - John Bishop
John Bishop (comedian)
John Joseph Bishop is an award-winning comedian.His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie and Emily and in the Ken Loach film Route Irish...
2002 - Phil Walker
2003 - Seymour Mace
2004 - John Warburton
The Unbroadcastable Radio Show
The Unbroadcastable Radio Show was a monthly live comedy show performed at the Comedy Store, Manchester. The show took the format of the recording of a radio show, featuring topical comedy written up to the day of performance....
2005 - Andy Watson
Andy Watson
Andrew "Andy" Watson is a former professional footballer and current coach. During his playing career, Aberdeen-born Watson had spells at Leeds United, Hearts, Hibernian and Aberdeen. He joined the coaching staff at Hibs under Alex Miller and was persuaded by Alex McLeish, his former team mate at...
2006 - Vince Atta
2007 - Tim Craven
Tim Craven
Tim Craven was born in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire on 2 April 1981. In 2007, At the age of 26, Tim won the City Life Comedian of the Year.He is a graduate of the University of Manchester where he took part in the University's student radio station Fuse FM...
2008 - Eddie Hoo
2009 - no competition