Billy T Award

Billy T Award
Awarded for	Kiwi comedian with "outstanding potential" at the NZICF
Sponsored by	New Zealand Comedy Trust
Location	SkyCity Auckland
Country	New Zealand
Presented by	Previous winner
Reward(s)	NZ$5,000
First award	1997;28 years ago (1997)
Most nominations	Jamie Bowen (4) Benjamin Crellin (4)
Website	Billy T Award

The Billy T Award is a New Zealand comedy award recognising 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 Billy T Award is presented alongside the Fred Award as part of an initiative by 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]

Winners and nominees

2001 and 2002 nominee Rhys Darby

2004 winner Ben Hurley

Year	Billy T recipient(s)	Other nominees
1997	Cal Wilson, Dirty Bitch [3] [4] Ewen Gilmour, Once Were Westies [5]	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, Cool [6]	Jan Maree, Chick With Skills [6] Irene Pink, Summertime With Irene [6] Benjamin Crellin, Midful [6]
2001	Jan Maree, It's In the Bag [7]	Jeremy Elwood, Live From The Shadows Rhys Darby, Rhys Darby and the Supernova [6] Jon Stubbs Benjamin Crellin
2002	Dai Henwood, The Story of Funk [8]	Rhys Darby, The Neon Outlaw [9] Tarun Mohanbhai, A D'Arranged Marriage [9] Benjamin Crellin, Pisstaker [9] GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews), A Forbidden Score [9]
2003	Justine Smith, The Justine Smith Hour [10]	Penny Ashton, Dirty Pink [10] Sully O'Sullivan, Scriptless [10] Benjamin Crellin, Smacked Up [10] GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews), Happy As Gary [10]
2004	Ben Hurley, Political and Stuff [11]	Cohen Holloway, Big Ted Speaks Out [12] Ezequiel Balmori, A War on Idiots [12] Jamie Bowen, Victim of Trend [11] Penny Ashton, Hot Pink Does Vegas [12]
2005	Sam Wills, Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of Sam Wills	Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, I Love David Hasselhoff [13] Darren Jardine, Just A Buck Eejit [13] James Nokise, Enter The Jandal [13] Jo Randerson, Skazzle-Dazzle [13]
2006	Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, The Neverending Cori [14]	James Nokise, White Club [14] Jerome Chandrahasen, Backpacker's Guide [14] Cameron Blair, Gifted [14] Gish (Justin Hansen), Solid Rolled Hits [14]
2007	Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith), Rock 101 [15]	Alex Hawley, Party On [15] Jamie Bowen, I Do These Things So You Don't Have To... [15] Grant Lobban
2008	Steve Wrigley, The First Time [16]	Simon McKinney, Land of the Long White Clown Grant Lobban, Laugh You Long Time Armstrong Creative, The Lonesome Buckwhips Jim Brown, A Woven Hour [17]
2009	Chris Brain, In a Better Place [18]	Jim Brown, A Legend in His Own Bathwater [19] James Keating, Billbored [20] Vaughan King, Inventor [21] Dave Wiggins, I'm a Believer [22]
2010	Rhys Mathewson, Rhyspect [23]	Jarred Fell, Dangerous Ideas [24] Clayton Carrick-Leslie, Bring It [25] Vaughan King, 0 to 20 in 60 Minutes [26] TJ McDonald, A Māori Ate My Great Granddad [27]
2011	Nick Gibb, Pakehas Be All Like This [28]	Urzila Carlson, The Truth According to Urzila Carlson [29] Joseph Harper, Bikes I've Owned Versus Girls I've Fallen In Love With Cameron Murray, Logical Oddity [30] Nick Rado, Rado & Juliet [31]
2012	Guy Williams, On the Verge of Nothing [32]	Tom Furniss, The Free Ice Cream Show [32] Tevita Manukia, Knock Knock Rose Matafeo, Scout's Honour TJ McDonald, My Life Has Been a Series of Poorly Made Decisions
2013	Rose Matafeo, The Rose Matafeo Variety Hour [33]	Pax Assadi, Pax's Magic Carpet Ride [34] Tom Furniss, The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper [35] Eli Matthewson, Proposition: Great! [36] Joseph Moore, Dope Ass Jokes [37]
2014	Guy Montgomery, Presents a Succinct and Concise Summary of How He Feels About Certain Things [38]	Tim Batt, Tim Batt Saves Planet Earth Brendon Green, Some More Mr Nice Guy Jamaine Ross, Jamaine Says Funny Things Stephen Witt, ODD
2015	Hamish Parkinson, Fly or Die [39]	Tim Batt, Tim Batt In the Human Experience Eli Matthewson, Faith [40] Nic Sampson, National Treasure [41] Matt Stellingwerf, PsychoBabble
2016	David Correos, Second Place Winner [42]	Alice Brine, Brinestorm [43] Laura Daniel, Pressure Makes Diamonds James Malcolm, Marry Me Chris Warner [43] Matt Stellingwerf, Bachelor of Arts
2017	Angella Dravid, Down the Rabbit Hole [44]	Li'i Alaimoana, Minority Rapport [44] Patch Lambert, Terrordactyl [45] Ray O'Leary, A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism Paul Williams, Summer Time Love
2018	Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama [46]	Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes [47] James Malcolm, Fameless [48] Alice Snedden, Self Titled: Vol. II [49] Two Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore), Two Hearts [50]
2019	Kura Forrester, Kura Shoulda Woulda [51]	Donna Brookbanks, Heroic [51] James Mustapic, The Blair Witch Projector Ray Shipley, All This Crying Is Making Me Hungry Tom Sainsbury, Tom Foolery [52]
2020	No award — festival cancelled	Josh Davies, Look! I'm Blind [53] James Mustapic, James Mustapic Is Coming Out (From Under a Rock) Ray O'Leary, Ray Against the Machine Brynley Stent, Soft Carnage Lana Walters, Problem Areas [54]
2021	Brynley Stent, Soft Carnage [53]	James Mustapic, Inside James Mustapic [55] Josh Davies, Look! I'm Blind [56] Lana Walters, Problem Areas [57] [58]
2023	Abby Howells, La Soupco [59] [60]	Gabby Anderson, Bad-ish Teacher [60] Jack Ansett, Are You Taking The Piss? Janaye Henry, Crush Season Maria Williams, ADHD... The Musical!?!
2024	Lana Walters, Don't Lick That [61]	Advait Kirtikar, New Show, Who Dis? [62] Rhiannon McCall, Toxic Shock Bimbo [63] Liv McKenzie, Crybaby [64] Tough Tiger Fist, Star-Crossed Brothers [65]
2025	Hoani Hotene, It’s Getting Hotene, So Tell Me All Your Jokes [66]	David Stuart, The Immortal Legacy of Me [67] Itay Dom, Itay Phone Home [68] Lesa MacLeod-Whiting, Rebellina [69] Booth the Clown/Jak Darling, Delightfool [70]

Controversy

In 2003, Mike Loder was blacklisted from the 2004 festival after sending fake congratulatory letters to nominees Sully O’Sullivan and Penny Ashton. ^[71] 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. ^[72]

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).

References

1. NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
2. NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16 January 2007
3. "Cal Wilson" (PDF). Token. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
4. "Comedy Festival 1995 - 1997". Auckland Council Libraries. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
5. "Bats Theatre: [Posters for productions at Bats Theatre. 1997]". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
6. "Comedy Festival 2000 - 2001". Auckland Council Libraries. 2001. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
7. Kushen, Karyn (3 May 2010). "The Best of the Billys 2010". Theatreview. Described as a "chauvinists' nightmare Jan Maree went from stand-up comedian hoping to score free beer in 1994 to performing a wide range of live shows, which earned her the 2001 Billy T Award for "It's In The Bag".
8. "Dai Henwood Presenter Biography" (PDF). Johnson and Laird.
9. "Comedy Festival 2002". Auckland Council Libraries. 2002. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
10. "Comedy Festival 2003". Auckland Council Libraries. 2003. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
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13. "Comedy Festival 2005". Auckland Council Libraries. 2005. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
14. "Comedy Festival 2006". Auckland Council Libraries. 2006.
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16. "NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2008 AWARDS". Theatreview. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
17. "Comedy Festival 2008". Auckland Council Libraries. 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
18. "CHRIS BRAIN and TE RADAR lead the field". Theatreview. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
19. "Jim Brown - A Legend In His Own Bathwater". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
20. "James Keating: Billbored". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
21. "Vaughan King: Inventor". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
22. "Dave Wiggins: I'm a Believer". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
23. Smith, Hannah. "POST-ADOLESCENT MUSINGS AMUSE". Theatreview. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
24. "JARRED FELL: Dangerous Ideas (NZ)". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
25. "CLAYTON CARRICK-LESLIE: BRING IT (NZ)". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
26. "Vaughan King: 0 to 20 in 60 minutes (NZ)". Theatereview. 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
27. "TJ McDONALD: A Mâori Ate My Great Granddad (NZ)". Theatereview. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
28. "Nick Gibb: Pakehas Be All Like This". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
29. "The Truth According to Urzila Carlson". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
30. "Cameron Murray In Logical Oddity". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
31. "Nick Rado in Rado and Juliet". Theatreview. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
32. "Guy Williams On the Verge of Nothing". NZ International Comedy Festival. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012.
33. "Comedy Festival 2013: Rose Matafeo". The New Zealand Herald. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
34. Grenar, Ingrid (16 May 2013). "Pax – Pax's Magic Carpet Ride – Review". Keeping Up With NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
35. Grenar, Ingrid (16 May 2013). "Tom Furniss – The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper – Review". Keeping Up with NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
36. "Comedy Festival 2013: Eli Matthewson". The New Zealand Herald. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
37. Golds, Liam (14 May 2013). "Joseph Moore – Dope Ass Jokes – Review" . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
38. "Interview – 2014 Billy T Nominees". Keeping Up With NZ. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
39. "Hamish Parkinson wins Billy T Award 2015". Keeping Up With NZ. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
40. Wenley, James (14 May 2015). "Faith (Eli Matthewson) (NZ International Comedy Festival 2015)". Theatre Scenes. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
41. McKee, Hannah (30 April 2015). "Nic Sampson: From Power Rangers to Jono and Ben". Stuff . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
42. Brookland, Nic (16 May 2016). "David Correos and Rhys Mathewson win at Last Laughs". Keeping Up With NZ. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
43. NZ Comedy Trust (2016). "Laughing Matters". 2016 NZ International Comedy Festival Programme: 45.
44. "Meet the 2017 Billy T Nominees". 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
45. "Finalists for the 2017 Billy T Award have been announced". Stuff . Fairfax Media. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
46. Dooley, Gary (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama". The New Zealand Herald .
47. Sills, Ethan (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes". The New Zealand Herald.
48. Nichol, Tess (15 May 2018). "Comedy review: A hit and miss hour with James Malcolm". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
49. Sutch, Lord. "Comedy fest review: Alice Snedden in Self-titled: Volume II". The Ruminator.
50. Minards-Black, Charlotte. "Congratulations to the 2018 Billy T Award nominees". Facebook. NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
51. "2019 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows". NZ International Comedy Festival. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
52. "And the winners are... Billy T and FRED winners announced | Scoop News".
53. "2020 Comedy Fest Calendar - Wellington Shows". NZ International Comedy Festival. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
54. "Billy T Nominees for 2020 announced, Billy T Jams on sale now!". NZ International Comedy Festival. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
55. "James Mustapic". Frank Management. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
56. "A Quick and Dirty Look at the Comedy Fest!". The Wellingtonista. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
57. "Lana WALTERS". Classic Comedy Network. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
58. "Billy T Nominees for 2020 Announced". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
59. "2023 Billy T Nominees Take To The Stage At Billy T Jams". Scoop. 2 February 2023.
60. Sills, Ethan (25 May 2023). "Billy T 2023 nominees reviewed: Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 27 August 2023.
61. Sills, Ethan (26 May 2024). "Lana Walters, Barnie Duncan and Trygve Wakenshaw win top prizes at NZ International Comedy Festival". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
62. "Advait Kirtikar - New Show, Who Dis?". NZICF.
63. "Rhiannon McCall - Toxic Shock Bimbo". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
64. "Liv McKenzie - Crybaby". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
65. "Tough Tiger Fist - Star-Crossed Brothers". NZICF. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
66. Sills, Ethan (25 May 2025). "NZ's top comedians named: Meet the winners of prestigious Fred and Billy T awards". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 25 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
67. "David Stuart - The Immortal Legacy of Me". NZICF.
68. "Itay Dom - Itay Phone Home". NZICF.
69. "Lesa McLeod-Whiting - Rebellina". NZICF.
70. "Booth the Clown/Jak Darling - Delightfool". NZICF.
71. Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday Star Times: 1/6/03)
72. Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.