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Madeleine Brettingham Crowned Champion of Bath Comedy Festival 2025

  • Comedy in Your Eye
  • Apr 24
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 27


Aerial view of historic buildings with dark roofs, a large green tree in the center, and cars parked on the street in the background. Sunny day.

Madeleine Brettingham has emerged victorious in the Bath Comedy Festival's New Act Competition 2025, showcasing her talent among a field of over 200 applicants. The Grand Final, held on April 21st at The Old Theatre Royal, featured twelve finalists who delivered their best performances in front of a lively audience.

Key Takeaways

  • Winner: Madeleine Brettingham

  • Runner-Up: Ro Dodgson

  • Third Place: Emma Hughes

  • Prize: £250 and guaranteed paid gigs for the upcoming year

  • Finalists: 12 comedians competed, with a total of 200 applications received

The Competition Overview

The Bath Comedy Festival's New Act Competition is a prestigious event that aims to discover and promote emerging comedic talent. This year, the competition attracted a record number of applications, with 120 acts long-listed through a series of heats. The finalists were selected to perform 7-8 minute sets in the Grand Final, where they were judged by a panel of industry experts.

Finalists and Performances

The twelve finalists who competed for the title included:

  1. Madeleine Brettingham (Winner)

  2. Ro Dodgson (Runner-Up)

  3. Emma Hughes (Third Place)

  4. Aleksandra Ivanova

  5. Atharva Pharande

  6. Carter Seipel

  7. Charlie Lewis

  8. Harrison Thomas

  9. Ily Hamdia

  10. Omari Douglas

  11. Pat Smith

  12. Robert Devereux

The event was hosted by comedian Alan Francis, who kept the audience entertained while the judges deliberated. The atmosphere was electric, with each performer bringing their unique style and humour to the stage.

Judges and Audience Reaction

The judging panel consisted of notable figures in the comedy scene, including Nick Steel, the Bath Comedy Festival Director, who praised the high standard of talent this year. He remarked, "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."

The audience was also treated to a special performance by last year's winner, Luke Richards, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the evening.

About the Winner

Madeleine Brettingham, a London-based comic, has recently made her mark in the stand-up scene. Before her success in comedy, she gained recognition for her writing credits on popular shows such as Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, Late Night Lycett, and Have I Got News For You.

Brettingham's upcoming solo work-in-progress, titled "Michael Made Me Do It," is set to be showcased at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer, promising to further establish her presence in the comedy world.

Conclusion

The Bath Comedy Festival New Act Competition continues to be a vital platform for emerging comedians, and this year's event highlighted the wealth of talent in the UK comedy scene. With her win, Madeleine Brettingham is poised for a promising career ahead, and audiences can look forward to her future performances.

Sources

  • Madeleine Brettingham wins Bath New Act Competition 2025, British Comedy Guide.

  • Madeleine Brettingham wins Bath Comedy Prize : Other news 2025 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide, Chortle.

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