Balsall Common estate agent scoops Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2016

On Friday night (7th October) Harv Hawkins was awarded the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2016 at The Glee Club.

Standing in front of an enthusiastic audience he was presented with his award by comedy legend Jasper Carrott.

The Balsall Common-based comedian – who by day works as an estate agent – has been performing for less than a year.

Judges were impressed by Harv’s confidence and original material, which explored the appeal of certain childhood toys, traffic tailbacks, popular phrases, and the housing market.

“I’d love to earn a living from comedy,” said Harv, after receiving his award. “Some comedians have ambitions for TV, that comedy will lead to other things, but I just want to do stand-up; if I could do that … I’d be a very happy man!”

Four other acts were also nominated for the title: Ali Warwood, a psychiatric nurse from Walsall, who touched on her experiences of motherhood; the darkly humorous Moses Ali Khan; poet/ comedian Richard Quarmby; and “albino Meat Loaf” Tom Christian.

The judging panel for the night consisted of Jasper Carrott, Steve Bennett, from influential comedy website Chortle, BBCWM presenter Daz Hale, The Glee Clubs’ founder Mark Tughan, and Dave Freak from Birmingham Comedy Festival.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “All the acts were excellent, but in the end it boiled down to two names – Tom and Harv – and after much deliberation, the judges decided that it should be Harv who walked away with the prize.”

A collaboration between the festival and the multi-award-winning Glee, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award aims to recognise, and support, emerging comedic talent from the city and the surrounding West Midlands.

Birmingham Comedy Festival 2016 kicked off on Friday 7th October, and continues at venues across the city until Sunday 16th October.

Highlights include appearances from Romesh Ranganathan, Jason Byrne and Kerry Godliman, a Rocky Horror revival, a new panel show from Mock The Week’s Gary Delaney, and the second of two Free Half-Dayers, featuring 10 free comedy shows.

For more information: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk