Heat Five hosted by Josh Pugh

Kate Sharp, Rachel Baker, Lucas Jones Ho, Patrick Conlan and Ravi Saini are among the 30 comics picked from almost a thousand applicants to the BBC New Comedy Awards. Tonight, they compete for a place in the grand final at Birmingham Town Hall, where one act will be named BBC New Comedian 2026.

Award-winning comedian Josh Pugh hosts. Each comic performs one set for the judges: stand-up and former winner Dan Tiernan, actor and improv comic Kiell Smith-Bynoe, and head judge Amy Gledhill. The panel is looking for originality, strong material and the potential to go further.

Once the last set is over, the judges weigh up the performances and choose who goes through to the final in November. Only one comic from the heat will make it.

The awards have been finding new comedians since 1995, helping launch the careers of Peter Kay, Sarah Millican, Romesh Ranganathan, Joe Lycett, Lee Mack, Alan Carr, Russell Howard, Tom Allen, Julian Barratt, Josie Long, Angela Barnes, Deirdre O’Kane, Lee Ridley and Lauren Pattison. Many went on to tour, front their own shows and become household names.

The search covers every part of the UK and aims to find a broad range of new comedy talent. The awards also run a trainee scheme for people starting out behind the camera, developing the next generation of programme makers as well as performers.