I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Babatunde Aléshé has been revealed as the Head Judge of this year’s BBC New Comedy Awards.
The comedian, 37, who featured in the 2022 instalment of the ITV1 jungle series, will run the rule over up-and-coming acts during the nationwide talent search in a bid to find the best new comedy star the UK has to offer.
Now in its 29th year, the BBC New Comedy Awards has helped launch the careers of comedians including Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Russell Howard, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican and Joe Lycett.
And the most recent winners, Joe Kent-Walters, Dan Tiernan and Anna Thomas, have all gone on to sign with high-profile agents and have pilot shows in development or will be taking their acts to Edinburgh Festival.
Babatunde will be joined on the judging panel during the six regional heats by a local comic and a TV comedy industry expert.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! star Babatunde Aléshé has been revealed as the Head Judge of this year’s BBC New Comedy Awards
The comedian, 37, will run the rule over up-and-coming acts during the nationwide talent search in a bid to find the best new comedy star the UK has to offer
Each qualifier, which takes place in September, will be televised weekly from October 2 on BBC Three before November’s Grand Final and will be screened on BBC1 and feature a special performance by 2023 NCA winner Joe Kent-Walters, AKA Frankie Monroe.
Speaking about his new role, Babatunde said: ‘I’m over the moon to be asked by the BBC to be their Head Judge for the New Comedy Awards.’
‘This prestigious competition has seen a raft of amazing comics taking part over the years. I can’t wait to see what brand-new talent the UK has to offer this year.’
The incentive to win the sought-after award has never been higher as this year’s winner will receive a paid commission to write and perform their own 30-minute audio pilot under the mentorship of a BBC Comedy Commissioner, plus a trophy and £1,000 cash.
The winner will also get to perform live on the BBC as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day in March 2025 – a campaign which will also celebrate the charity’s 40th anniversary.
The talent search encourages comedians of all different types to enter and BBC bosses are predicting they’ll receive even more entrants than last year, which totalled over 1,200.
Babatunde is the type of all-round comedy performer entries will be hoping to emulate.
Other than his jungle stint, he’s known for starring in Celebrity Gogglebox alongside best pal and fellow comic Mo Gilligan.
Each qualifier, which takes place in September, will be televised weekly from October 2 on BBC Three before November’s Grand Final and will be screened on BBC1
He has also featured on Comedy Central’s Guessable, House of Games on BBC2, ITV2’s The Stand-Up Sketch Show, and Dave’s Comedians Giving Lectures.
Babatunde has also written provocative factual content drawing on his own powerful story of growing up poor in London, and appeared in an extensive list of TV shows including Waking the Dead and films including Pelican Blood and The Naked Poet.
His foray into the podcasting world has also proved popular with his Mission Imagination podcast series winning an ARIAS Award.
Aspiring comedians have until midnight June 30 to enter and can do so by clicking here.
It comes after Babatunde and Love Island’s Indiyah Polack were announced as the hosts for the 26th MOBO Awards taking place at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield earlier this year.
Babatunde said: ‘This is just massive and I am so honoured. The MOBO Awards are something you grow up watching and now to be able to say I’m a part of it… it’s an amazing feeling. Indiyah and I are gonna bring some VIBES!’
It comes after Babatunde and Love Island’s Indiyah Polack were announced as the hosts for the 26th MOBO Awards taking place at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield earlier this year
Indiyah added: ‘Having watched the MOBO Awards since I was young, then getting to present an award last year, to now hosting the show with Babatúndé… this is like the hugest job ever, and I’m excited!
‘There are so many artists I listen to that have been nominated as well, so it’s going to be a real ‘pinch me’ moment on the night.’
MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE said in his statement: ‘We are thrilled to announce Babatunde Aleshe and Indiyah Polack as the charismatic hosts for the 26th MOBO Awards.
‘They share such energy and chemistry, as I saw for myself when we met, and it will be a dynamic combination for the vibrant and spectacular awards show. I know they will pull out all the stops on the night!’
