Samira Banks wins So You Think You're Funny? 2023
Samira Banks is the winner of the 36th edition of So You Think You're Funny? – the annual competition at the Fringe for new comedians – following last night's final at Gilded Balloon
Following a series of heats and showcases to whittle over 400 entrants down to the very best, Samira Banks has won this year's So You Think You're Funny? (SYTYF?) competition. Banks, from London, was announced as the winner after appearing alongside her nine fellow finalists at the SYTYF? final at the Gilded Balloon; Chris Donovan and Lizzie Norm came second and third respectively. Banks receives a cash prize, a run as part of Gilded Balloon’s 2024 Fringe programme, paid gigs at Latitude Festival and Just for Laughs London, and a host of mentorship and development opportunities.
Artistic Directors of the Gilded Balloon, Karen and Katy Koren said, “Huge congratulations to Samira Banks for being named this year’s So You Think You’re Funny? winner! This year’s competition was fierce, hence our judges submitting ten finalists instead of the usual maximum of nine, so Samira should be incredibly proud."
The final was hosted by 2017 SYTYF? winner Maisie Adam – past winners and finalists in the long-running competition include Aisling Bea, Fern Brady, Ivo Graham, Romesh Ranganathan and Sara Pascoe. The full list of So You Think You're Funny? 2023 finalists is as follows: Samira Banks, Chris Donovan, Lizzie Norm, Carwyn Blayney, Lauren Carroll, Sophie Garrad, Archit Goenka, Alex Lennox, Chantel Nash and Cormac Sinnott.
For more info on So You Think You're Funny?, visit soyouthinkyourefunny.co.uk