I have mentioned the Malcolm Hardee Comedy Awards in the last couple of blogs. The actual trophies were designed and made by mad inventor John Ward who is particularly keen (via an email this morning) that I mention he lives in or near Moulton-Seas-End in Lincolnshire.
If you go to Wikipedia, you will find there is an article on Moulton-Seas-End currently illustrated with a sole photograph (below).
John Ward clearly is, indeed, a man out standing in his own field.
Moulton-Seas-End, home of John Ward (Photograph supplied by Kate Jewell via geograph.org.uk)
I suspect he may be trying to drum up tourist trade for Moulton-Seas-End, which is nowhere near the sea.
Having established specifically where he lives, onwards more generally to this year’s Comedians’ Choice Awards.
These, like the Malcolm Hardee Awards, are currently organised by the British Comedy Guide with trophies designed by John Ward but, in this case, there is sponsorship from London’s Museum of Comedy.
The Comedians’ Choice Awards were founded in 2014 and aim to help highlight “the amazing work of those at the Fringe who may well otherwise go unrecognised, as judged by those who understand their efforts the best: their peers.”
Every comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe is eligible to both cast a vote and to be voted for.
There is no panel of judges, no industry specialists. The performers themselves decide who wins. Voting is conducted during August via an online form administered by the British Comedy Guide.
The Comedians’ Choice Awards are presented in three categories:
BEST SHOW at the Fringe.
BEST PERFORMER – The best individual comedy performer at the festival.
BEST PERSON – “A person who the voter feels should get recognition for their contribution to this year’s Fringe. This does not need to be a performer; it can be anyone associated with the comedy industry at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, from reviewers to producers and venue staff.”
The Best Performer and Best Show winners and the Best Show shortlist nominees get invited to take part in a special Comedians’ Choice showcase season at London’s Museum Of Comedy in October.
This year, as a bonus, streaming platform NextUp Comedy will also record some of the Museum Of Comedy nights, with the performer receiving a revenue share.
The actual trophies, as I said, are designed and made by John Ward, who lives in or near the village of Moulton-Seas-End in Lincolnshire. He tells me:
John Ward, from Moulton-Seas-End, with the original Award
Before the Covid, if you recall we met up at Milton Keynes with the then ‘new’ Award that – unbeknown to me at the time – was then given in three classes and not one as I first thought.
Trying to replicate that one this year has been slightly chaotic… Since the Covid malarkey, things have been a bit fraught in acquiring the same materials in the making of.
The materials that went into making that Award are not readily available nowadays – blame the Ukraine business, the 3 Day Week, fluoride in toothpaste, wotever.
John Ward, resident of Moulton-Seas-End, crafting an Award
The new design is more handy for standing on a bookshelf, fireplace or to use as a door stop.
It’s in a mask configuration with the now standard ‘red nose’ being central, with a slanted ‘comedic eye’ on one side with the Comedy Guide emblem opposite making the twin ‘eyes’ as such with raised eyebrows.
The ‘grinning’ mouth has been chiselled out and filled with red ‘sparkly ripple’ type finish inserted and is not symmetrical but, as you look at it, there is a small curl on the left hand side at the top of it.
It is secured to the base with twin screws and a central wooden dowel so, in theory, there is not much chance of it falling apart… but, then again, they said the Titanic was unsinkable..
I have made nine of these: three for 2021 to give to the winners from then, three for this year 2022 and three for next year 2023, with each year being designated its own colour scheme.
The colours per year are: Gold, Silver and Bronze. This year, for 2022, it’s Silver.
Three years’ worth of The Comedians’ Choice Awards
THE COMEDIANS’ CHOICE AWARDS
2022 WINNERS
BEST PERFFORMER
Jordan Gray …performing in Jordan Gray: Is It a Bird?
Sharing the news on social media, Gray said: “This means EVERYTHING to me.”
BEST SHOW
Rob Copland: Mainstream Muck (Gimme Some of That)
In a nod to his unconventional show, when asked what it felt like to win, Copland supplied this statement: “\m/”.
BEST SHOW SHORTLIST
Ali Brice: I Tried To Be Funny, But You Weren’t Looking
Chelsea Birkby: No More Mr Nice Chelsea
Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann
The Delightful Sausage: Nowt but Sea
Elf Lyons: Raven
Luke Rollason: Bowerbird
Siblings: Siblage
Shelf: Hair Stuart Laws – Putting Zoo
BEST PERSON
Martin Willis
He is managing director of show production company Objectively Funny. The company also produces and distributes the Small Book on Mental Health at the festival, to support performers.
Martin Willis said: “It is a massive honour to win an award like this, one that’s voted for by people involved in shows here. It means the world to be recognised by a community that I care so dearly about, and I’m incredibly grateful.
“That being said, it cannot go unmentioned that in the history of this particular award the winner has always been a man. That fact speaks both of the demographics of the voters but also of what we actually see from behind the scenes. For an industry that is historically male-dominated onstage, there is a vast array of brilliant women that have made so much work possible in so many ways – technicians, producers, agents, venue programmers and people that do whatever job needs doing with care and gusto.
“I would like to accept this award on behalf of the Objectively Funny team that has worked so hard to make excellent things happen at this festival: Ellie Brayne-Wyatt, Maddy Bye, Kathryn Higgins, Olivia Phipps and Lois Walshe.”
SO IT GOES - John Fleming's blog 