[Madeleine Brettingham]
Bath’s Comedy Festival, which has just finished, organised a 2025 New Act Competition, which attracted over 200 applications, 120 of which were long-listed in twelve heats.
The winners of each heat took part in the Grand Final, performing 7-8 minutes each, and judged by a panel of comedy industry heavyweights.
Here are the results:
First place: Madeleine Brettingham @littlemaddles
Second place: Ro Dodgson @rododgsoncomic
Third place: Emma Hughes @emmahughes_
The final took place on Monday, 21st April, for the second year running at its magnificent new home, The Old Theatre Royal, Bath. All heats were held at Nowhere.
The Bournemouth-based winner, Madeleine Brettingham, was presented with an enormous trophy, the title of Bath Comedy New Act Of The Year 2025, £250 and will also receive guaranteed paid gigs in the forthcoming year.
Runners-up received goodie bags courtesy of sponsors Rengen Lettings, including reusable water containers and bottles of wine.
Front row L-R: Alan Francis, Nick Steel, Ro Dodgson, Madeleine Brettingham, Emma Hughes.
Photo by Adrian Feeney
The 12 finalists were Aleksandra Ivanova, Atharva Pharande, Carter Seipel, Charlie Lewis, Emma Hughes, Harrison Thomas, Ily Hamdia, Madeleine Brettingham, Omari Douglas, Pat Smith, Ro Dodgson, Robert Devereux, .
The final was hosted by veteran observational comedian, star of stage and screen (and 1991 ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ winner) Alan Francis and the audience were treated to a performance from last year’s winner Luke Richards while the judges deliberated.
Nick Steel, Bath Comedy Festival Director, said: “All twelve aspiring comedians in this year’s final were very strong, and indeed the standard in the heats was so good we will be inviting some of those who didn’t make the final to come back over the coming year as well.”
He went on to thank the venue staff, the sold-out audience and the Festival team, including Kerrianne Gauld, Jennifer Ballantyne, Ralph Oswick and Adrian Feeney.
This year’s judges were comedy producers Alan Nixon and Mark Robson, comedy trainer and promoter Jill Edwards, Festival Director Nick Steel, plus guest judge Angie Belcher – an award-winning facilitator, coach and stand-up comedian.
Photos by Adrian Feeney and Kerrianne Gauld
