Comedy: Congratulations to award-winning Zoe Lyons

Congratulations to award-winning Zoe Lyons

In amongst the mince pies and in the haze of the turkey curry you may have missed the fabulous Boxing Day announcement that Zoe Lyons has been named UK Circuit Comedian of 2015 by her fellow comedians. You may have missed it because it wasn’t on television, did not have a sparkly A-list attended ceremony, and was drawn from a poll of her peers – professional comedians who gig up and down the country most nights, and from that elevated position get to really see some of the best acts from every corner of Britain. A brilliant accolade.

First runner up was Jeff Innocent, an always warmly-received regular at Komedia’s weekend Krater club, and third place was taken by Seymour Mace – whose surreal leftfield anarchy saw him nominated for the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award. Keep an eye out for both of them, as well as award-originator two years ago and collector this year of the new 30+ years award (the previous year’s winner organises the next one, in case you were suspicious) John Moloney – another Krater regular.
But back to Zoe Lyons. We are fortunate here on the South Coast, as the incredibly funny Lyons hosts the monthly Bent Double night, a club she created several years ago and has seen go from strength to strength. It’s all-inclusive ethos won Bent Double the prestigious Chortle award for Best Comedy Club in the UK 2015, and attracts such attention-grabbing headlinering comedians as Susan Calman, Kerry Godliman and (February’s) Joe Lycett. It also includes excellent support, February’s show being no exception with Jo Caulfield and Allyson June Smith on the bill. All MC’d by the aforementioned award-winning Zoe Lyons. It’s a bit good.
But then so is Zoe. Having burst onto the comedy scene over a decade ago as the winner of 2004’s Funny Women, Lyons has since been nominated for the if.comeddie Best Newcomer (aka Fosters Best Newcomer), become a regular on TV panel shows and television’s live stand-up showcases, as well as turning out hour-long shows that frequently garner the best reviews. It’s marvellous that her peers recognise her with this accolade. 2016 holds nothing but promise when it starts this well.
Bent Double, Komedia, 7.30pm, Sunday 7 February 2016, £12/9/5, www.komedia.co.uk