So You Think You're Funny? (SYTYF?) is an annual stand-up comedy competition for new acts. The competition began in 1988 in the United Kingdom.
The finals are held every August at The Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Past winners include Aisling Bea, Dylan Moran, Lee Mack, Peter Kay and David O'Doherty.
So You Think You're Funny? was the idea of Karen Koren, artistic director of The Gilded Balloon, in order to discover new comic talent. During the years it has developed into the most influential competition of its kind in the UK, helping the careers of many of the country's leading comedians including Dylan Moran, Lee Mack, Graham Norton, David O'Doherty and Tommy Tiernan. Other competitors have included Ardal O'Hanlon, Johnny Vegas, Ed Byrne, Jason Byrne, Alex Zane, Reginald D Hunter, Craig Hill, Alan Carr, Rhod Gilbert, Andrew Lawrence and Russell Howard.
Sponsorship from Channel 4 began in 1993 and ran until 2004, since when Channel 5 and The Paramount Comedy Channel have been sponsors. Now sponsored by Foster's, the first prize is ã5,000 and a place in the Best of British Show at the Montreal "Just For Laughs" Festival.
Past judges have included Steve Coogan, Owen O'Neill, Avid Merrion (Leigh Francis), Bob Mortimer and former So You Think You're Funny? winners Dylan Moran and Rhona Cameron.
Compères for the evening have included Eddie Izzard, Bill Bailey, Graham Norton and Jo Brand.
The rules and eligibility are as follows:
"1. The performer cannot have performed stand-up REGULARLY either paid or unpaid before 1st June of the year prior to the competition. *
2. The performer should not have appeared in So You Think You're Funny? before.
3. The performerâÂÂs material must be completely original.
4. The performer must have at least 8 minutes of original material.
5. The organisers reserve the right to select all entrants and decisions taken by the organisers and judges are final.
6. All entrants must be aged 18 and over.
The competition starts in the spring of each year with showcases in Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, York, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Inverness, Dublin, Brighton and Nottingham as well as ten comedy clubs in London. In 2013, there were over 500 applicants for only 55 places in the Edinburgh heats.
Each showcase is not a direct competition, with judges instead selecting the best acts they have seen over the entire run to take part in one of seven heats at the Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. Winners of each of these heats go forward to the final.
Results:
MC: Maisie Adam Guest Judge: Sue Perkins
There were more than beating out over 400 contestants from across the UK. Results:
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MC Zoe Lyons Comedy Guest Judge: Jenny Eclair
Results:
MC Zoe Lyons Comedy Guest Judge: Rhod Gilbert
Results:
MC: Aisling Bea
Comedy Guest Judge: David O'Doherty
Results:
MC Zoe Lyons Comedy Guest Judge: Alan Davies
Results:
MC: Zoe Lyons Comedy Guest Judge: Mark Watson
Results:
MC: Zoe Lyons
Comedy Guest Judge: Jason Manford
Sponsor: Foster's
Results:
MC: Zoe Lyons
Comedy Guest Judge: Sarah Millican
Sponsor: Foster's
Results:
MC: Jason Cook
Comedy Guest Judge: Ruby Wax
Sponsor: Foster's
Results:
MC: Jarred Christmas
Comedy Guest Judge: Lee Mack
Sponsor: The Sims 3
Results:
MC: Rufus Hound
Comedy Guest Judge: Tim Minchin
Results:
MC: Lee Mack
Comedy Guest Judge: Tim Vine
Results:
Comedy Guest Judge: Johnny Vegas
Results:
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MC: Bill Bailey
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