Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2026

The West Mids’ biggest comedy prize returns.

A hand-picked selection of the very best emerging acts from across the region compete for the prestigious annual title.

Battling it out for the award will be five fantastic acts: Tarik Badwan, Andy Bucks, Naph, Nina Semple and Eden Voss.

With Special Guest (TBA). Compered by James Cook.


ABOUT THE BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL BREAKING TALENT AWARD

A collaboration between the comedy festival and The Glee Club Birmingham, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award debuted in 2014. Designed specifically to elevate, support and celebrate comedy talent from the region, participation in the award is by invitation-only - with shortlisted acts nominated by comedians, promoters and comedy professionals from the area.

The award's traditional trophy is 'The Mug Of Victory.'

Previous Breaking Talent winners include Josh Pugh (English Comedian Of The Year, Live At The Apollo, Stepping Up), Celya AB (Chortle Best Newcomer 2022, BBC Comedy Award 2021 Finalist, The Guilty Feminist, Live At The Apollo), Hasan Al-Habib (nominated for Leicester Comedy Festival Awards Best Debut Show 2025, BBC's Pilgrimage) and Tom Towelling (Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award Winner 2025). 2026's award was won by Ryan S Lewis.

ABOUT THE SHORTLISTED ACTS

Tarik Badwan: Born in Oswestry, Shropshire, Tarik Badwan grew up in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The comedian/ actor/ musician made his stand-up debut in 2023 for Project Mayhem at Coventry's Sky Blue Tavern, where he attempted to play air guitar, with mixed results. Describing his career highlight as making someone laugh so hard they fell off their chair, Tarik - who performs as character ‘Rik Goodman’ - cites such acts as Jordan Brookes, Nate Kitch and Tony Law as inspiration. Discussing his approach to stand up, he says: "Definitely on the alternative spectrum. And just generally on the spectrum."
◼ Instagram: @rikgoodman_comedy

Andy Bucks: An astrophysics researcher at the University Of Warwick, in Coventry, Andy Bucks was tempted on stage while a student, after seeing a friend give stand up a go. An admirer of James Acaster, Stewart Lee, Marcel Lucont and Kristen Schaal, in addition to performing solo, Andy is also one half of comedy duo Low Effort Sketches. "I like to do stupid material about obscure stuff that I care way too much about," says Andy, who has lived in Coventry for three years. "One of my friends described my style as 'acid nerd', which I think is a pretty good summary."
◼ Instagram: @andybuckscomedy

Naph: Birmingham born and raised, Naph resides in Small Heath. A quality assurance supervisor in the food industry, and also an arena steward, her first performance was as part of a comedy showcase at Rosie's, Broad Street, Birmingham, in June 2024, upon completing a stand-up course led by comedians/ tutors James Cook and Andy White. A fan of Milton Jones, Richard Blackwood, Frankie Boyle, and "anyone from Mock The Week", Naph now hosts her own regular stand up nights, HaHaLal Comedy, and describes her material as "deadpan, dark, one liners, observational."
◼ Instagram: @naphcomedy

Nina Semple: Having completed the Jill Edwards Comedy Course, in Brighton (where she studied Drama and English Literature at uni’), Nina Semple's first official gig was on her birthday, in April 2023. Raised in Shirley, Solihull, and the Birmingham suburb of Yardley, the radio production coordinator is currently working on her first solo show, and mentions Miranda Hart, Dora Bryan, Victoria Wood, Joe Lycett, Harriet Kemsley and Bob Mortimer as some of her comedy faves. Of her own comedy, Nina says: "It’s very silly and maybe confusing at times, because I am always confused. Sometimes there’s songs and PowerPoint slides, and other times there’s just me wearing different hats and smiling. I think it’s always quite happy."
◼ Instagram: @ninasemplecomedy

Eden Voss: Hailing from Sutton Coldfield, Eden Voss is now based in Solihull. Having completed stand up courses with Rachel Sambrooks and James Cook, Eden made his stage debut at Queer As Joke in July 2025 with just 10 minutes notice. "My style of comedy is mostly stories pulled from personal experiences as a neurodiverse gay man," says Eden, who mentions Victoria Wood, French and Saunders and Ronnie Corbett amongst his influences. "I love making people laugh and being diagnosed late in life with ADHD and Autism I wanted to help destigmatise neurodiversity by showing another side of it. I think of it as hiding broccoli in the mashed potatoes."
◼ Instagram: @edenvoss.comedy