Billy T Award

The Billy T Award is a New Zealand comedy award recognizing up-and-coming New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential. It has been presented annually since its inception in 1997 when Cal Wilson and Ewen Gilmour shared the award. The Billy T was shared between two comedians until 2001 when it became a solo award.[1]

The awards are an initiative of the New Zealand Comedy Trust to ‘foster and encourage outstanding New Zealand talent.'[2]

Billy T James

The Billy T Awards were named in honour of New Zealand comedian Billy T. James. The winner receives ‘the yellow towel’ in tribute to the towel worn by James in some of his most famous sketches.[1]

Judging

The winner is selected from five nominees performing during the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Five judges select a winner based on their proven comedic ability, talent, dedication and potential.[2]

Billy T Award: winners and nominees

2001 and 2002 nominee Rhys Darby

2004 winner Ben Hurley

Year	Billy T recipient(s)	Other nominees
1997	Cal Wilson Ewen Gilmour	Mike King Brendhan Lovegrove Radar Raybon Kan
1998	Brendhan Lovegrove Radar (Andrew Lumsden) Sugar and Spice (Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte)	Philip Patston Jaq Tweedie
1999	Philip Patston The Humourbeasts (Jemaine Clement and Taika Cohen)	Paul Ego Irene Pink Jon Stubbs
2000	Mike Loder Paul Ego	Jan Maree Irene Pink Benjamin Crellin
2001	Jan Maree	Jeremy Elwood Rhys Darby Jon Stubbs Benjamin Crellin
2002	Dai Henwood	Rhys Darby Tarun Mohanbhai Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews)
2003	Justine Smith	Penny Ashton Sully O'Sullivan Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews)
2004	Ben Hurley	Cohen Holloway Ezequiel Balmori Jamie Bowen Penny Ashton
2005	Sam Wills	Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Darren Jardine James Nokise Jo Randerson
2006	Cori Gonzalez-Macuer	James Nokise Jerome Chandrahasen Cameron Blair Gish (Justin Hansen)
2007	Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith)	Alex Hawley Jamie Bowen Grant Lobban
2008	Steve Wrigley	Simon McKinney Grant Lobban The Lonesome Buckwhips Jim Brown
2009	Chris Brain	Jim Brown James Keating Vaughan King Dave Wiggins
2010	Rhys Mathewson	Jarred Fell Clayton Carrick-Leslie Vaughan King TJ McDonald
2011	Nick Gibb	Joseph Harper Urzila Carlson Nick Rado Cameron Murray
2012	Guy Williams	Tom Furniss Rose Matafeo Tevita Manukia TJ McDonald
2013	Rose Matafeo	Tom Furniss Eli Matthewson Pax Assadi Joseph Moore
2014	Guy Montgomery	Brendon Green Jamaine Ross Stephen Witt Tim Batt
2015	Hamish Parkinson	Eli Matthewson Matt Stellingwerf Nic Sampson Tim Batt
2016	David Correos	Alice Brine James Malcolm Laura Daniel Matt Stellingwerf
2017	Angella Dravid	Paul Williams Li'i Alaimoana Ray O'Leary Patch Lambert[3]
2018	Melanie Bracewell	Alice Snedden Donna Brookbanks James Malcolm Two Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore)[4]
2019	Kura Forrester	Donna Brookbanks James Mustapic Ray Shipley Tom Sainsbury[5]
2020	TBC (festival cancelled due to COVID-19)	Brynley Stent James Mustapic Josh Davies Lana Walters Ray O'Leary[6]

Controversy

In 2003, Mike Loder was blacklisted from the 2004 festival after sending fake congratulatory letters to nominees Sully O’Sullivan and Penny Ashton.[7] In 2005, Philip Patston, the 1999 winner who is gay and disabled, volunteered to give up his award in response to the rhetoric and policies of the National Party under Don Brash.[8]

Trivia

Rhys Mathewson is the youngest recipient of the award at age 19.
Benjamin Crellin (2000–03) and Jamie Bowen (2002–04, 2007) share the record for most nominations (four).

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References

NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16/1/2007
"Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced". Stuff. Fairfax Media. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
Minards-Black, Charlotte. "Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees". Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1905/S00292/and-the-winners-are-billy-t-and-fred-winners-announced.htm
"Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday tar Times: 1/6/03)
Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.

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[ReferenceA-1] NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.

[ReferenceB-2] NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16/1/2007

[3] "Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced". Stuff. Fairfax Media. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.

[4] Minards-Black, Charlotte. "Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees". Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 13 October 2017.

[5] ttp://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1905/S00292/and-the-winners-are-billy-t-and-fred-winners-announced.htm

[6] "Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.

[7] Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday tar Times: 1/6/03)

[8] Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.