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Brighton Festival Fringe kicked-off for me with my "New Act Night" show for my latest fledgling comics from my stand-up comedy course at Brighton's Komedia. They truly lived-up to my favourite quote about our sell-out twice yearly "New Act Night" shows, which have gained such a loyal following: "A fabulous night out full of warmth, discovery (for the audience and the acts!) and more feelgood than a 70's disco." Latest ****

I was sworn to secrecy but I knew that only a few weeks later my fledgling comics would be watching our fast rising graduate, regular Comic Boom MC and their own "New Act Night" show Compere Romesh Ranganathan totally storming BBC 3's "Russell Howard's Good News Extra!" It was a very exciting way to conclude my Spring 2013 stand-up comedy course at Komedia and their Brighton Festival Fringe experience! 

It's hard to describe the exciting, mad happy and slightly surreal experience of watching my well-known comedy course graduates being interviewed on television shows. I've watched the gloriously articulate Shappi Khorsandi being interviewed by Jonathan Ross on his show a few times but this time it was the turn of our wonderful "wobbly comedian" Francesca Martinez to beat Jonathan Ross at his own game. If you haven't seen Francesca live or on television yet then this clip probably best explains why this warm-hearted top class funny comedian is also an inspiring and unique individual in the comedy world. You can catch up with Francesca live on tour at the moment in her brilliant show "What the f**k is Normal?"    

I was delighted that my wonderful comedy course graduate Francesca Martinez (left) was nominated for "Best Show" in the prestigious Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards. I caught-up with Francesca and her superb solo show "What the **** is Normal?" when her tour brought her to Brighton's Komedia last year, and it truly deserved this "Best Show" nomination.

 

Francesca was the first, to coin her phrase "wobbly comedian" to join my comedy course, when I was first teaching stand-up, at London's City Lit. I learnt so much from her about how to make my stand-up comedy classes fully accessible for everyone. She's an extraordinary woman and her appearance on "Russell Howards Good News" saw her leading the way again for her fellow "wobbly comedians." 

My other comedy workshops graduate nominated in Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards for "Best Show," for his new solo show "Rom Com," was my Comic Boom MC the fantastic Romesh Ranganathan. I have never wanted two comedians to win the same award so much in my life! 

 

BBC Producer Steven George popped back into my life with an urgent request for help with his "Comic Relief" gig at the Trinity Theatre. The last time I spoke to Steven we were filming the BBC One documentary "Stand-Up for Comic Relief." Steven was back and he needed a headline act for his gig but we only had forty-eight hours to find one! Musical comedy double act Horse & Louis stepped into the breach, stormed the gig, and a fantastic five thousand pounds was raised for "Comic Relief." Phew!

Meanwhile, one of my stand-up course graduates Brighton's own Rich Perry (left) had a modest triumph when he won the London heat of Chortle's Student Comedy Awards. He represented Brighton's comedians in the capital city and made us all proud. 

And the winner of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Awards for "Best Show?" There's just no stopping him at the moment. It was (below) the incredible Romesh Ranganathan. 

  

It would be an understatement to say I'm over the moon for my fantastic graduate Romesh Ranganathan who has just won "Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year" 2013. He's the second of my graduates to win that award, previously won by our Seann Walsh. One of my earliest blogs here was about the sheer excitement of watching Romesh win his "So You Think You're Funny" heat at the Edinburgh Festival. He's come a long way since then but he's just kept on giving me opportunities to leap in the air clapping and cheering. It's a pleasure working with Romesh who is one of my fantastic four regular Comic Boom MC's at Komedia, Brighton. It was an added delightful bonus that Mark Simmons who is also one of my fantastic four Boom MC's was a runner-up in "Leicester Mecury Comedian of the Year" 2013. With the other two of my four Boom MC's comedy course graduate Paul McCaffrey landing BBC3 series "Impractical Jokers" and Paul F Taylor winning the NATY's 2013 it's safe to say that I could not be prouder of my aptly named fantastic four.  

2013 got off to a cracking start with my Brighton stand-up comedy course at Komedia graduate Sam Savage (right) storming the Bloomsbury Theatre and winning the runner-up prize in the prestigious "NATY's." The winner of the "NATY's" 2013 was one of our fantastic four "Comic Boom" MC's wonderful Paul F Taylor (left). They both did me and Komedia Brighton proud and Steve Bennett's Chortle review for them is ace. Click on link below to read review.

http://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2013/01/29/17058/naty_new_act_of_the_year_2013_final

 

 

We were over the moon when two of our fantastic four "Comic Boom" at Komedia Brighton MC's marvellous Mark Simmons (below) and my stand up graduate who's star just keeps on rising Romesh Ranganathan (left) were both nominated for the highly prestigious Leicester Mecury Comedian of the Year.  

I've always had such faith in my fantastic four Boom MC's I'm delighted their stars are all on the rise in the comedy industry. One of the fantastic four my graduate Paul McCaffrey started it by landing BBC3 series "Impractical Jokers." Healthy competition spurring them on or they're all just brilliant...

And I sent my thanks again to Latest 7 for a 5 star rave review for our end of year "Comic Boom." 

Click on link to read that Comic Boom review: http://thelatest.co.uk/brighton/2013/01/02/comic-boom-4/

 

 

 

 

While that was going on one of my newest Komedia comedy course graduates truly alternative Fraser Geesin (left) made my day by sending me his first ever review (click on link below). It's from Steve Bennett at Chortle.  It's a great first review...

http://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2013/01/25/17032/comedy_de_luxe%3A_opening_night

 

And Steve Bennett's "alternative hero" Ingrid Dahle (right) tweeted me her fun first interview with "Such Small Portions" (click on link below) in which, amongst other comedy things, she makes it clear that she is not David Baddiel..... 

http://www.suchsmallportions.com/feature/incoming-ingrid-dahle-not-david-baddiel

 

 

 

To complete this cracking start to 2013 my stellar stand-up course at Komedia Brighon graduate Seann Walsh (left) made us proud all over again when he was named the new "face of Comedy Central!"

Click on link below to read about that new face and find out about his currently shooting "Comedy Central" series "Seann Walsh World."  

http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/000001012/seann_walsh_world_comedy_central_stand_up_series/