BRISTOL: Zim medical student crowned comedy award winner

By chortle.co.uk

Riki Msindo was crowned winner of the 2023 Chortle Student Comedy Award last night.

The 25-year-old – originally from Zimbabwe – is a fifth year medical student at Bristol University, and  said: ‘I’m honoured to have won and it was so much fun.

‘I was a fan of comedy first so just being able to watch such a great final was incredible. The best part was performing  with so many talented and hilarious people, who I’m sure I will be friends with for life.’

Msindo  is already active on the Bristol comedy scene and co-hosts the podcast Oh Captain My Captain with fellow comic Mark Olver, which features guests including Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard and former Chortle Student Comedy Award  winner Joe Lycett giving him tips for the top.

Runner-up was  Josh Adkins a third-year theology and religion undergraduate at Exeter University. The 22-year-old spoke about the perils of dating as a Christian as well as mining his difficult family background for laughs.

The final – hosted by Mark Watson –  will be airing on Radio 4Extra at 10.30pm tonight, then will be available on BBC Sounds.

Chortle editor Steve Bennett said: ‘We had a really interesting range of voices and styles in this year’s final, making it difficult to chose between the ten young comics who had made it this far. In the end, Riki’s warmth and wit won out – but I’m sure all the finalists will go on to have stellar careers in comedy.’