The five acts in the running for the prestigious annual Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2026 have been revealed.
A collaboration between Birmingham Comedy Festival and The Glee Club Birmingham, the award show officially opens the long-running comedy/arts festival on Friday 2 October 2026.
Set up in 2014 to recognise, elevate and support rising comedy talent from the West Midlands region, this year’s shortlist features Tarik Badwan, Andy Bucks, Naph, Nina Semple and Eden Voss.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
The Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award has previously handed out it’s famed ‘Mug Of Victory’ trophy to such acts as Josh Pugh (2015; Live At The Apollo, Stepping Up, Mitchell & Webb), Celya AB (2019; Saturday Night Live UK), Hasan Al-Habib (2023; BBC Two’s Pilgrimage), and Tom Towelling (2024; Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award Winner 2025). Ryan S Lewis was 2025’s recipient, while previous nominees have included Eric Rushton (Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award 2023), Lindsey Santoro (NextUp’s Biggest Award In Comedy 2023) and Jack Kirwan, aka Gary Powndland.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Comedy Festival said: “Birmingham and the wider West Midlands continues to be a genuine hotbed for live comedy talent – and that’s very much reflected in this year’s award shortlist. With such a strong line-up, it’s going to be an amazing show, and we can’t think of a better way to officially launch 2026’s 25th anniversary festival.”
The city-wide Brum festival – which debuted in 2001, and this year includes over 100 performances – runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 11 October 2026 and welcomes appearances from such names as Daniel Sloss, Stevie Martin, Olga Koch, Paul Foot, Matt Richardson, Jason Byrne, Laura Smyth, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Serena Terry.
Officially launching the festival, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award takes place at The Glee Club, Birmingham, on Friday 2 October 2026, and is compered by James Cook, with a Special Guest to be announced. For tickets and more information, see: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk
LISTINGS
Friday 2 October 2026
Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2026
Five of the very best emerging comedy acts from Birmingham and the West Midlands vie for the prestigious title. With Tarik Badwan, Andy Bucks, Naph, Nina Semple and Eden Voss. Compered by James Cook. Special Guest to be announced.
The Glee Club, The Arcadian, 70 Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TD
T: 0871 472 0400.
Tickets: £12.75; £10.25 Conc + £2.75 booking fee
Times: Doors 6.45pm, Last Entry 7.15pm. Age 16+
Web: bhamcomfest.co.uk
Direct link: https://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/breakingtalentaward2026.html
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHORTLISTED ACTS
Tarik Badwan
instagram.com/rikgoodman_comedy
Andy Bucks
instagram.com/andybuckscomedy/
facebook.com/AndyBucksComedy
Naph
instagram.com/naphcomedy
tiktok.com/@naphcomedy
Nina Semple
instagram.com/ninasemplecomedy
tiktok.com/@ninasemplecomedy
Eden Voss
instagram.com/edenvoss.comedy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Acts shortlisted for the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award have been nominated by representatives from across the local comedy scene, including performers and promoters, based on performances over the last year. The award is only open to acts from the wider West Midlands region, with participation strictly by invitation-only.
Special Guest: To Be Announced.
Judging Panel: To Be Announced.
Compere: James Cook – www.jamescookcomedian.com
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL
Birmingham Comedy Festival is an independent city-wide multi-arts festival. Established in 2001, it’s the UK’s second longest running comedy festival. A winner of multiple Best Arts Festival awards, it sees big-names performing alongside new and emerging acts, and the very best comics from the West Mids comedy scene.
Among those who’ve previously appeared at the festival are such A-listers as Peter Kay, Michael McIntrye, Joe Lycett, Lenny Henry, Alan Carr, Jack Whitehall, Sarah Millican, Joanna Lumley, The Fast Show, Sean Lock, Inside No9 and ‘Weird’ Al.
The annual Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award, launched in 2014, has given a platform for such rising West Midlands comedy stars as Josh Pugh (Live At The Apollo, The Emily Atack Show, Stepping Up, Mitchell & Webb, The Power Of Parker, How Are You? It’s Alan Partridge), Celya AB (Live At The Apollo, Sky’s Saturday Night Live UK, Guessable, The Great British Sowing Bee) and Hasan Al-Habib (Pilgrimage).
Find out more about the festival: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk