Eric Rushton has been named as the first winner of The Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award.

The award was designed to showcase talented new writers and performers who embodied the alternative comedic spirit of Sean and Channel 4.

Eric will now be given a unique opportunity to kickstart his career in TV comedy. As recipient of the award, he will receive £5,000 to support his live work as well as a script commission from Channel 4’s comedy team, writer shadowing on Channel 4’s comedy entertainment shows and a £1,000 commission to write a script for Channel 4’s digital strand. He will also receive support and mentoring sessions from Channel 4’s commissioning teams.

Since his comedy debut in 2014, Eric has been impressing audiences with his intelligent, playful material and likeable, self-deprecating stage persona. In January 2020 he won the prestigious 'Leicester Mercury Comedian of The Year' award - an award that was previously won by the likes of Romesh Ranganathan, Jason Manford and Jonny Vegas. Before that he was a Chortle Student finalist in 2016 and So You Think You're Funny? finalist 2017.

Eric said, “Watching Sean Lock was a huge part of my childhood, I’m such a huge fan and I can’t think of a better person to be associated with. I really want to thank Adam Jaremko from GLEE clubs who put me forward and has always believed in me and also my mum for giving birth to me and raising me on comedy. I’m a bit overwhelmed with it all!”

Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy at Channel 4 said, “It’s a great feeling when your spidey senses tell you someone is special in comedy and our panel all had that with Eric. There’s something properly idiosyncratic yet inclusive about his writing and performance and his potential across comedy at Channel 4 in all its brilliant guises is incredibly exciting. He’s the perfect inaugural winner of The Sean Lock Award.”

Our thanks and congratulations again to all the award finalists: Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Mamoun Elagab, Kyrah Gray, Kuan-wen Huang, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Tadiwa Mahlunge, Mike Rice, Lorna Rose Treen, Anna Thomas and Lily Webb.

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