So You Think You’re Funny?, the UK’s best known competition for emerging comedians, has crowned Madeleine Brettingham as the winner of its 38th edition. She emerged victorious from a grand final which introduced ten comedians (each of whom had been performing for less than a year) to a packed-out crowd at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 

Brettingham, a self-described ‘female geezer’, scooped this year’s prize thanks to strong material about being raised by a blokey single dad and growing up in old-fashioned boozers. Her knack for blending offbeat observations with pacey, unexpected punchlines proved to be a hit. 

The London-based comic, who’s also performing a work-in-progress show called Michael Made Me Do It at the Free Fringe, has won a cash prize, a fully-funded solo show (or mixed bill run) as part of Gilded Balloon’s Fringe programme, mentorship meetings with Channel 4’s Comedy Commissioning team, a variety of paid performance slots, headshots from acclaimed photographer Steve Ullathorne, complimentary filmed copy for showreel use, and mentorship from Karen and Katy Koren (Gilded Balloon’s artistic directors) and Julia Chamberlain (the producer of So You Think You’re Funny?).

Reb Day was the first runner up, who proved adept at reeling out a winding narrative about a period of ‘bisexual panic’ before her wedding to a man. The second runner up, meanwhile, was Joel Walker, whose offbeat one-liners about ancient cars, neurodivergence and his life in the funeral industry made him a unique proposition. 

Both runners up will receive a cash prize, the potential to be invited to a mixed bill show as part of Gilded Balloon’s Fringe programme, and mentorship from Karen and Katy Koren and Julia Chamberlain. 

This year’s judging panel consisted of special guest judge Doon Mackichan (comedian and TV star) plus Angela Squire (artistic director of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival), Bruce Dessau (editor of Beyond The Joke), Arusa Qureshi (editor of Fest Mag), Julia Chamberlain as well as Karen and Katy Koren . 

Here’s the full list of comedians that made it to the grand final, who were selected from 435 initial applications to compete: 

Joel Walker - second runner up 
Madeleine Brettingham - winner 
Noni
Oro Rose
Peter Josip
Qasim Akhtar
Rachel Porter
Reb Day - first runner up 
Sean Chalmers
Valeria Vulpe

Katy and Karen Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon and So You Think You’re Funny? said: ‘Huge congratulations to Madeleine Brettingham - 2025’s fantastic winner of So You Think You’re Funny?

‘This year’s competition was extremely competitive with over 435 applications, so it’s an outstanding feat for these ten finalists from across the UK to have made it this far and perform in front of our sold out crowd tonight. Each year it’s fantastic to see so many So You Think You’re Funny? alumni return to the Fringe to make their debut or take part in mixed bill runs. 2024’s winner Alana Jackson has had a huge sold out run with us this August, as well as brilliant shows from the likes of Sophia Wren, Christopher Donovan, our Best of So You Think You’re Funny? acts and many more. 

‘A massive thank you to every comic who entered the competition this year, and all our esteemed judges who joined us at heats across the UK to ensure we could provide a platform to some of the very best new up and coming comedians in the country. We’ve all been blown away by the talent on display tonight and we’re sure they will go on to do wonderful things!’

Celebrity guest judge Doon Mackichan said: ‘I’m absolutely bowled over and amazed at the talent tonight - it was a really difficult decision and such a high standard. I laughed at every single person, but we had to make a decision. This is brutal - it’s worse than The Voice and X Factor!’

Main picture: Steve Ullathorne.