Comedy Women in Print Prize
Literary award
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The Comedy Women in Print Prize is a literary award for comedy novels written by women. It was founded in 2018 by Helen Lederer in response to the low number of women awarded the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, having only been presented to three women in 18 years.[1] However, Lederer has been careful not to describe the prize in critical terms.[2] She also acknowledges that her status as a well-known comedian has helped draw focus onto the award.[3]
It has been received as a positive way to shine a light on comedic novels, in an environment where publishers may regard comedy as difficult or risky.[4]
The award started with two categories: published and unpublished novels. In 2022, an additional award was added to celebrate a debut published author. This is known as the New Voice award and commemorates the legacy of Sue Townsend.[5]
In 2025, the award was expanded to permit self-published novels to be entered for the first time.[6] Other new awards included in 2025 were the Jilly Cooper Award, won by Sara Pascoe; the Honorary Game Changer Award, won by Tameka Empson; and the Honorary Witty Impact Award, won by Alison Steadman.[7]
Past winners
| Year | Category | Author | Title | Publisher | Judges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Published Comedy Novel | Laura Steven | The Exact Opposite of Okay | Electric Monkey | Marian Keyes, Kathy Lette, Katy Brand, Shazia Mirza, Jenny Eclair, Allison Pearson |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Kirsty Eyre | Cow Girl | HarperCollins | Fanny Blake, Susan Calman, Martha Ashby, Jennifer Young, Lara Marshall, Karen McPherson | |
| 2020 | Published Comedy Novel | Nina Stibbe | Reasons to Be Cheerful[9] | Penguin Books | Lolly Adefope, Marian Keyes, Emma Kennedy, Pauline McLynn, Joanna Scanlan, Laura Steven |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Faye Brann | Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy | HarperCollins | Yomi Adegoke, Fanny Blake, Kate Bradley, Grace Campbell, Kirsty Eyre, Jennifer Young, Rachel Ball, Dr Nicola Streeten, Janet Ellis, Hannah Berry, Jen Brister, Paula Wilcox | |
| Humorous Graphic Novel | Danny Noble | Was it… Too Much for You? | |||
| Humorous Graphic Novel | Posy Simmonds | Cassandra Darke | |||
| Flash Fiction (Women in Pants) | Lily Lindon | ||||
| 2021 | Published Comedy Novel | Jesse Q. Sutanto | Dial A for Aunties[10] | HQ | Joanne Harris, Maureen Lipman, Steph McGovern, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Nina Stibbe, Susan Wokoma |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Rebecca Rogers | The Purgatory Poisoning | HarperCollins | Sarah Shaffi, Martha Ashby, Faye Brann, Gloria Hunniford, Thanyia Moore, Dr Jennifer Young | |
| Flash Fiction (Comedy Cringe) (in partnership with Black Girl Writers and People in Harmony) | AJ Morris | Llewella Gideon | |||
| 2022 | Flash Fiction (Faux Pas Flash) | Geena Erfurth-Roberts | |||
| 2023 | Published Comedy Novel | Michelle Gallen | Factory Girls | John Murray | Susie Blake, Michelle de Swarte, Anita Dobson, Angie Greaves, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Arabella Weir |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Silvia Saunders | Happy Above Us re-titled Home Sick for publication | HarperCollins | Charlie George, Llewella Gideon, Liz Hoggard, Rebecca Rogers, Lucy Stewart, Jennifer Young | |
| New Voice Award | Nikki May | Wahala | John Murray | ||
| Flash Fiction (Festive Flash) | Ellie Hughes | Deborah Frances-White | |||
| Comedy Short Story (in collaboration with Farago) | Paula Lennon | Sorry, Delivery | Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Abbie Headon, Yasmeen Khan, Olga Koch, Ria Lina, Chrissie Manby | ||
| 2024 | Flash Fiction (Worst Winter Party) | Sadie Kaye | Emergency Party Services | ||
| 2025 | Published Comedy Novel | Nussaibah Younis[7] | Fundamentally | W&N | Chizzy Akudolu, Susannah Constantine, Kerry Godliman, Chrissie Manby, Ingrid Oliver, Ranvir Singh |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Natalie Willbe[7] | Music for the Samosa Generation | Dawn Butler, Janet Ellis, Liz Hoggard, Malaika Kegode, Keshini Naidoo, Jennifer Young | ||
| Self Published Comedy Novel | Ruth Foster[7] | A Perfect Year? | Ollerford Publishing | Llewella Gideon, Alison Hume, Lesley Joseph, Deborah Maclaren, Silvia Saunders, Nina Wadia | |
| People's Choice Award | Nussaibah Younis | Fundamentally | W&N | ||
| Commendation for Comedic Culture | Dara Lutes[7] | Generation Ex | |||
| Honorary Game Changer Award | Tameka Empson[7] | ||||
| Honorary Witty Impact Award | Alison Steadman[7] | ||||
| Jilly Cooper Award[7] | Sarah Pascoe | Weirdo | |||