BBC New Comedy Awards: Award Rules

The BBC New Comedy Awards is a nationwide talent search to find the next generation of comedy stars (including stand-up, sketch, musical and character).

These rules, together with the Privacy Policies of the BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Limited, and the BBC’s Terms of Use, govern your application to the BBC New Comedy Awards 2025. You will be asked to agree to further terms and conditions later in the application or production process if you are shortlisted for the talent search.

‘We’ shall mean collectively the BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd.

Eligibility

1. This talent search is open to any person aged 18 or over as of 25th May 2025 who is permitted to work and reside in the UK.

2. Applicants for this talent search must meet the following criteria:

a. You must not have been performing paid comedy gigs before 01st January 2022 – i.e. performances where you were paid cash (unpaid or bucket collection open mic spots before this time are fine); and

b. To enter, you must have at least five minutes of un-broadcasted material that is original and self-written; and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The use of generative AI tools to create or develop any part of any entry is not permitted and will lead to disqualification.

c. You must not have used this material on radio or linear or digital television; and

d. You must not have been a FINALIST (including REGIONAL FINALS) in the BBC New Comedy Awards 2021 to 2024 or BBC Introducing Radio 4 Comedy Awards (formerly known as the BBC Radio New Comedy Awards) 2017, 2018, 2019.

3. All applicants for the talent search must be a resident and/or permitted to work in the United Kingdom for at least the period March 2022 - December 2025.

4. Employees of the BBC, Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. and/or their subsidiaries or affiliates are not permitted to enter any category of the talent search.

5. Employees, children and close relatives of employees of the BBC, Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. and/or their subsidiaries or affiliates are not permitted to enter any category of the talent search.

Application

6. All applicants for the talent search must complete a web application form at bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/newcomedyawards

7. To enter the BBC New Comedy Awards 2025, all applicants need to fill in a form hosted on the bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/newcomedyawards via Upload and submit a piece of original content. If applicants have any issues using the online application with built in uploader, they can email for help at bbcnewcomedyawards@bbc.co.uk

8. Recordings of routines longer than the permitted length will be disqualified.

9. Applications will open on Friday 21st March 2025 at 10:00 and close at 23:59 on Sunday 25th May 2025.

10. Applications received after the closing time and date will not be considered. The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. reserve the right to extend the closing date as they may deem necessary.

11. Only one application per person will be accepted. The first valid submission will be accepted. Any subsequent submissions will be disqualified.

12. The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. reserve the rights to refuse any application at their sole discretion, are not required to give any reason for such refusal and shall have no liability for any loss arising from such refusal. The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd may use the information you provide to verify your eligibility, including your age and identity as well as social media/background checks and reserve the right to stop the progress of any entrant following these checks.

13. In order to ensure that the BBC New Comedy Awards is open to a wide range of potential comedians, the BBC and/or Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. may, at their sole discretion, actively approach potential applicants and invite them to apply.

14. Once your application form is submitted, you will receive a confirmation message to acknowledge receipt of entry. Please make a note of your reference number. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, extended feedback will not be provided for individual applicants.

15. The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Limited reserve the right to notify applicants of further BBC New Comedy Awards rules during the assessment process.

16. The information you provide will be kept confidential by the BBC, producers of the Awards, and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd, and will only be used for the purposes of administering the BBC New Comedy Awards (including to consider your suitability to take part) and the making of television programmes and other material relating thereto and as set out in the Privacy Notices of BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. referred to below in this section of the Awards Rules and to fulfil any applicable statutory, regulatory or compliance obligations. BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. will process and store your personal data, including your contribution, securely and in accordance with data protection and privacy laws.

17. We may collect sensitive information, such as details of your medical conditions, where it is either relevant in the context of the programme, or where we have a lawful reason to do so (for example, to assess your fitness to participate in the show).

18. The entry form is hosted and provided by BBC. Your personal data will be restricted to relevant members of the programme’s production team and crew and, where necessary, we may also share information with other BBC or Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. staff, with our professional advisors, and from time to time with other programmes that may have an interest in your contribution. Only the names of shortlisted, commended and winning acts will be disclosed to the public.

19. The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. will retain your details and your contribution to maintain an accurate record of the Awards and for the purposes of administering future Awards.

20. If you are not shortlisted, we will securely destroy your personal data no later than 6 months after the application closing date and, in any event, when it is no longer required and we will not use it for any other purpose. Please refer to the Privacy Notices for additional information.

21. Please feel free to ask questions about what happens to the information provided in the application form or let us know if you would like to withdraw your entry by contacting us at bbcnewcomedyawards@bbc.co.uk

22. For more information about how the BBC uses your personal data and your rights, visit https://bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/21fX5Z8mPcczRhG1zYRTbVL/privacy-notice

23. And for further details of how Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. Uses your personal data and your rights visit https://www.mcintyre-ents.com/tv/phil-mcintyre-tv-ltd-bbc-new-comedy-awards-privacy-notice/

Heats Process

24. Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. will invite a number of successful applicants in the talent search to regional Showcases to perform five minutes maximum of original material (this can be the same as your entry material) to a judging panel and live audience.

25. The Showcases will be judged on:

a. originality of material; and

b. quality of writing; and

c. performance and delivery

26. Showcases will take place in July and August 2025 at venues across the UK.

27. The successful applicants from the Showcases will then be invited to take place in one of six Regional Heats to perform five minutes maximum of original material (can be the same as the Showcase material) to a judging panel and live audience.

28. For those invited to take part in the Regional Heats Phil McIntyre TV Ltd may undertake social media checks. Those chosen to perform in the Regional Heats warrant that they have not acted or omitted to act and will not act or omit to act whilst taking part in the BBC New Comedy Awards in any such manner as may bring Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. and/or the BBC and/or the BBC New Comedy Awards into disrepute. Where it deems appropriate, Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. may require chosen Regional Heats performers to give consent to Phil McIntire TV/Ltd. commissioning Disclosure and Barring Service (“DBS”) checks before performing in the Regional Heats. Information discovered in such DBS checks or otherwise or that may be disclosed by chosen Regional Heats performers themselves will inform the decision as to their participating in the Regional Heats. Disqualification will not be automatic but the decision to disqualify any chosen Regional Heats performer (including for refusing to give consent for DBS checks) will be at the sole and absolute discretion of Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. and not subject to challenge for any reason whatsoever and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising from such disqualification. Information about the chosen Regional Heats performers (including the results of DBS checks) may be shared with the BBC’s editorial policy advisor for the BBC New Comedy Award 2025 if Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. deem it in their sole discretion necessary and/or appropriate and such information will be handled in the strictest confidence and as with all personal data in accordance with the Phil McIntyre TV Ltd.’s Privacy Notice: https://www.mcintyre-ents.com/tv/phil-mcintyre-tv-ltd-bbc-new-comedy-awards-privacy-notice/

29. The Regional Heats will be judged on:

a. originality of material; and

b. quality of writing; and

c. performance and delivery

30. Regional Heats will take place throughout September and October 2025 (filming dates to be confirmed nearer the time) across the UK.

31. The winner of each Regional Heat will receive a place in the Final.

32. A runner up from each Regional Heat will be on standby in case of dropouts at the Final. They will be asked to attend but will not perform unless a finalist drops out.

33. The Showcases and Regional Heats will be recorded and highlights from each of the Showcases and Regional Heats or parts thereof may be broadcast or published on various BBC platforms.

34. Each applicant shortlisted for the Awards will be required to perform five minutes maximum of original material, which the BBC/Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. will edit, at its sole discretion, for broadcast purposes.

35. Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. will endeavour but does not guarantee to offer applicants shortlisted for the Awards the opportunity to participate in a Regional Heat at the venue nearest to them.

36. Attendance at the Showcases, Regional Heats and Final is solely at your own cost and risk. Neither Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. or BBC will reimburse travel expenses incurred to attend any Showcase, Regional Heat or the Final.

Final

37. The Final will be recorded and broadcast on BBC One and BBC Three and broadcast or published on other BBC platforms.

38. Once all finalists have performed, the judging panel will decide the winner.

The winner

39. The BBC/ Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. reserves the right to alter and/or cancel the BBC New Comedy Awards or any element of the BBC New Comedy Awards, including any applicable prizes, at its sole discretion and shall have no liability for any loss arising.

40. No commercial gain can be made from using or referencing the BBC or Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. brands, brands of their affiliates, the Awards itself and its branding or any other element of this Awards process.

41. Any reference to the BBC New Comedy Awards by the winner and applicants shortlisted for the Awards will require the BBC’s prior approval.

The winner will receive a prize of £1,000.00 and a paid commission to write and perform in a 30-minute audio pilot mentored by a BBC Comedy Commissioner.

Applications

42. All applications become the property of the BBC, except rights in and to the original comedy material. All applicants hereby grant the BBC a royalty-free licence to use any material submitted or performed by them in any media throughout the Universe in perpetuity for the purposes of the BBC New Comedy Awards.

Talent Search Material

43. It is a condition of entry to the BBC New Comedy Awards that each applicant grants to BBC for the full period of copyright and any extensions, renewals the sole and exclusive right to exploit material from all stages of the talent search in all media throughout the Universe.

Other

44. As well as recording on-stage performances at the Showcases, Regional Heats, the Final and judging sessions, Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. may also record backstage and background material on contestants appearing in the Showcases, Regional Heats and the Final which you agree to participate in such backstage and background filming as requested by Phil McIntyre TV Ltd.

45. The BBC reserves the right to use the audio and audio-visual material submitted, and from each stage of the talent search in any of its output, whether published online, broadcast on television or radio, used on red button services or otherwise.

46. Whilst Phil McIntyre Ltd. will record material at all the Showcases, Regional Heats, the Final and judging sessions, Phil McIntyre Ltd. shall be under no obligation to do so or to include all or any part of any such material recorded in the final TV programmes or other material produced for the BBC New Comedy Awards. Further, the BBC has no obligation to broadcast or publish the final TV programmes or any other material produced for the BBC New Comedy Awards or any part thereof.

47. By entering the BBC New Comedy Awards, each applicant warrants that:

a. material submitted or performed is wholly original and does not infringe the rights of any other person or parties;

b. no material submitted or performed will be defamatory or obscene or likely to bring the BBC into disrepute;

c. all material submitted or performed will be suitable for broadcast on various BBC Platforms; and

d. indemnifies Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. and the BBC accordingly in the event of breach of these warranties and the Awards Rules.

48. The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. reserve the right to reject any entry which is illegible, inaudible, arrives after the closing date, is submitted by an ineligible applicant or for any other reason at their sole discretion.

49. All applicants agree to undertake all reasonable press and publicity as may be required by the BBC or Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. including, without limitation, audio and audio-visual interviews.

50. The decisions of the judges and the BBC are final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.

51. In the event of any default or breach by Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. or the BBC of any Awards Rules or other undertakings in regard to the BBC New Comedy Awards, your sole remedy will action at law for monetary damages (if any) actually incurred and in no event shall you (or anyone acting on your behalf) be entitled to receive any injunctive or other equitable relief or to restrain the distribution, exhibition, advertising or other exploitation of the TV programmes or material produced for the BBC New Comedy Awards or of any rights granted or assigned in any material filmed including yourself.

52. These rules and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.

53. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these rules.

54. By applying to enter the BBC New Comedy Awards you agree to the Awards Rules and the terms of the Privacy Notices of BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd. relating to the BBC New Comedy Awards (and any changes to the same posted from time to time on this or the privacy page webpages). The BBC and Phil McIntyre TV Ltd accept no responsibility if entrants ignore these rules and agrees to indemnify the BBC and PMTV against any claim by any third party from any breach of these Terms and Conditions.

55. Any archive or music used within a set must be either owned by the entrant or pre-cleared for use on BBC channels and social media platforms.

56. We are dedicated to promoting an inclusive environment and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. If you have any access requirements, please let us know so we can discuss and arrange reasonable adjustments for you if you are shortlisted.