Andrew McBurney has been named recipient of the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2014.
Standing in front of a capacity Glee Club audience on Friday night, Andrew was presented with his award by Birmingham comedy legend Jasper Carrott.
Though hailing from Glasgow, Andrew has spent the last 21 years in the Black Country. He currently lives in Halesowen and works for Black Country T-shirt makers, Teetshirts.
Accepting his prize, Andrew simply said: “I’m buzzing.” His performance saw him recount the deeply traumatic departure of a girlfriend, before an unexpected and surprising change of character.
The much anticipated Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award saw six local acts competing for the title: Northfield newcomer Lindsey Santoro, the deadpan Wayne Beese, Kingswinsford’s Danny James Clives, actor turned comic Christopher John Hall, Sutton Coldfield comedian/ musician Hannah Silvester, and Andrew.
Each act was nominated by a team of established comedy professionals including Janice Connolly (aka Mrs Barbara Nice, Women And Theatre), Jo Enright (Job Lot, Life Is Short), James Cook (mac Birmingham comedy course tutor, comedian), Alex Jackson (The Glee Club booker) and Maureen Younger (MY Comedy, comedian).
The judging panel consisted of BBC WM’s Daz Hale, The Glee Club owner Mark Tughan, Birmingham Comedy Festival’s Dave Freak, and Jasper Carrott, taking a break from his first stand-up tour in over a decade.
A spokesperson for the festival said: “The judging panel were blown away by the level of professionalism of all the acts making the selection process tough, but the originality of Andrew’s act was impressive. We wish Andrew, and his fellow contestants, all the best for the future.”
A collaboration between the festival and the multi-award-winning Glee Club, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award aims to recognise, and support, emerging comedic talent from Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands. The event was sponsored by Fosters.
Birmingham Comedy Festival 2014 launched on Friday 3 October, and continues at venues across the city until Sunday 12 October. For full listings and more information, see: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk