# 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.
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".

## 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.

## 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.

## Winners and nominees

| Year | Billy T recipient(s) | Other nominees |
| 1997 | Cal Wilson Ewen Gilmour | 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 | Jan Maree Irene Pink Benjamin Crellin |
| 2001 | Jan Maree, It's In the Bag | Jeremy Elwood Rhys Darby Jon Stubbs Benjamin Crellin |
| 2002 | Dai Henwood | Rhys Darby Tarun Mohanbhai Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews) |
| 2003 | Justine Smith, The Justine Smith Hour | Penny Ashton Sully O'Sullivan Benjamin Crellin GARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews) |
| 2004 | Ben Hurley | Cohen Holloway Ezequiel Balmori Jamie Bowen Penny Ashton |
| 2005 | Sam Wills, Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of Sam Wills | Cori Gonzalez-Macuer Darren Jardine James Nokise Jo Randerson |
| 2006 | Cori Gonzalez-Macuer | James Nokise Jerome Chandrahasen Cameron Blair Gish (Justin Hansen) |
| 2007 | Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith) | Alex Hawley Jamie Bowen Grant Lobban |
| 2008 | Steve Wrigley, The First Time | Simon McKinney Grant Lobban The Lonesome Buckwhips Jim Brown |
| 2009 | Chris Brain, In a Better Place | Jim Brown James Keating Vaughan King Dave Wiggins |
| 2010 | Rhys Mathewson, Rhyspect | Jarred Fell Clayton Carrick-Leslie Vaughan King TJ McDonald |
| 2011 | Nick Gibb, Pakehas Be All Like This | Urzila Carlson, The Truth According to Urzila Carlson Joseph Harper, Bikes I've Owned Versus Girls I've Fallen In Love With Cameron Murray, Logical Oddity Nick Rado, Rado & Juliet |
| 2012 | Guy Williams, On the Verge of Nothing | Tom Furniss, The Free Ice Cream Show 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 | Pax Assadi, Pax's Magic Carpet Ride Tom Furniss, The Diary of Gordon Leaf-Cooper Eli Matthewson, Proposition: Great! Joseph Moore, Dope Ass Jokes |
| 2014 | Guy Montgomery, Presents a Succinct and Concise Summary of How He Feels About Certain Things | 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 | Tim Batt, Tim Batt In the Human Experience Eli Matthewson, Faith Nic Sampson, National Treasure Matt Stellingwerf, PsychoBabble |
| 2016 | David Correos, Second Place Winner | Alice Brine, Brinestorm Laura Daniel, Pressure Makes Diamonds James Malcolm, Marry Me Chris Warner Matt Stellingwerf, Bachelor of Arts |
| 2017 | Angella Dravid, Down the Rabbit Hole | Li'i Alaimoana, Minority Rapport Patch Lambert, Terrordactyl Ray O'Leary, A Pessimist's Guide to Optimism Paul Williams, Summer Time Love |
| 2018 | Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama | Donna Brookbanks, You Do You Babes James Malcolm, Fameless Alice Snedden, Self Titled: Vol. II Two Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore), Two Hearts |
| 2019 | Kura Forrester, Kura Shoulda Woulda | Donna Brookbanks, Heroic James Mustapic, The Blair Witch Projector Ray Shipley, All This Crying Is Making Me Hungry Tom Sainsbury, Tom Foolery |
| 2020 | No award — festival cancelled | Josh Davies, Look! I'm Blind 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 |
| 2021 | Brynley Stent, Soft Carnage | James Mustapic Josh Davies Lana Walters |
| 2023 | Abby Howells, La Soupco | Gabby Anderson, Bad-ish Teacher Jack Ansett, Are You Taking The Piss? Janaye Henry, Crush Season Maria Williams, ADHD... The Musical!?! |
| 2024 | Lana Walters, Don't Lick That | Advait Kirtikar, New Show, Who Dis? Rhiannon McCall, Toxic Shock Bimbo Liv McKenzie, Crybaby Tough Tiger Fist, Star-Crossed Brothers |
| 2025 | Not yet awarded | David Stuart Hoani Hotene Itay Dom Lesa MacLeod-Whiting Booth the Clown/Jak Darling |

## Controversy

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

## 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).