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.NZ On Air, Press Release: ‘New Zealand Laughs On Air’ 23/4/02.
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".NZ International Comedy festival, Press Release: ‘2007 Billy T Nominees’ 16 January 2007
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, Dirty BitchEwen Gilmour, Once Were Westies Mike KingBrendhan LovegroveRadarRaybon Kan 1998 Brendhan LovegroveRadar (Andrew Lumsden)Sugar and Spice (Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte) Philip PatstonJaq Tweedie 1999 Philip PatstonThe Humourbeasts (Jemaine Clement and Taika Cohen) Paul EgoIrene PinkJon Stubbs 2000 Mike LoderPaul Ego, Cool Jan Maree, Chick With SkillsIrene Pink, Summertime With IreneBenjamin Crellin, Midful 2001 Jan Maree, It's In the Bag Jeremy Elwood, Live From The ShadowsRhys Darby, Rhys Darby and the SupernovaJon StubbsBenjamin Crellin 2002 Dai Henwood, The Story of Funk Rhys Darby, The Neon OutlawTarun Mohanbhai, A D'Arranged MarriageBenjamin Crellin, PisstakerGARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews), A Forbidden Score 2003 Justine Smith, The Justine Smith Hour Penny Ashton, Dirty PinkSully O'Sullivan, ScriptlessBenjamin Crellin, Smacked UpGARY (Brett O'Gorman, Jamie Bowen and Mick Andrews), Happy As Gary 2004 Ben Hurley, Political and Stuff Cohen Holloway, Big Ted Speaks OutEzequiel Balmori, A War on IdiotsJamie Bowen, Victim of TrendPenny Ashton, Hot Pink Does Vegas 2005 Sam Wills, Dance Monkey Dance: The Evolution of Sam Wills Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, I Love David HasselhoffDarren Jardine, Just A Buck EejitJames Nokise, Enter The JandalJo Randerson, Skazzle-Dazzle 2006 Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, The Neverending Cori James Nokise, White ClubJerome Chandrahasen, Backpacker's GuideCameron Blair, GiftedGish (Justin Hansen), Solid Rolled Hits 2007 Mrs Peacock (Jarrod Baker and Dave Smith), Rock 101 Alex Hawley, Party OnJamie Bowen, I Do These Things So You Don't Have To...Grant Lobban 2008 Steve Wrigley, The First Time Simon McKinney, Land of the Long White ClownGrant Lobban, Laugh You Long TimeArmstrong Creative, The Lonesome BuckwhipsJim Brown, A Woven Hour 2009 Chris Brain, In a Better Place Jim Brown, A Legend in His Own BathwaterJames Keating, BillboredVaughan King, InventorDave Wiggins, I'm a Believer 2010 Rhys Mathewson, Rhyspect Jarred Fell, Dangerous IdeasClayton Carrick-Leslie, Bring ItVaughan King, 0 to 20 in 60 MinutesTJ McDonald, A Māori Ate My Great Granddad 2011 Nick Gibb, Pakehas Be All Like This Urzila Carlson, The Truth According to Urzila CarlsonJoseph Harper, Bikes I've Owned Versus Girls I've Fallen In Love WithCameron Murray, Logical OddityNick Rado, Rado & Juliet 2012 Guy Williams, On the Verge of Nothing Tom Furniss, The Free Ice Cream ShowTevita Manukia, Knock KnockRose Matafeo, Scout's HonourTJ 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 RideTom Furniss, The Diary of Gordon Leaf-CooperEli 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 EarthBrendon Green, Some More Mr Nice GuyJamaine Ross, Jamaine Says Funny ThingsStephen Witt, ODD 2015 Hamish Parkinson, Fly or Die Tim Batt, Tim Batt In the Human ExperienceEli Matthewson, FaithNic Sampson, National TreasureMatt Stellingwerf, PsychoBabble 2016 David Correos, Second Place Winner Alice Brine, BrinestormLaura Daniel, Pressure Makes DiamondsJames Malcolm, Marry Me Chris WarnerMatt Stellingwerf, Bachelor of Arts 2017 Angella Dravid, Down the Rabbit HoleLi'i Alaimoana, Minority RapportPatch Lambert, TerrordactylRay O'Leary, A Pessimist's Guide to OptimismPaul Williams, Summer Time Love 2018Melanie Bracewell, Melodrama Donna Brookbanks, You Do You BabesJames Malcolm, FamelessAlice Snedden, Self Titled: Vol. IITwo Hearts (Laura Daniel & Joseph Moore), Two Hearts 2019 Kura Forrester, Kura Shoulda Woulda Donna Brookbanks, HeroicJames Mustapic, The Blair Witch ProjectorRay Shipley, All This Crying Is Making Me HungryTom Sainsbury, Tom Foolery 2020 No award festival cancelled Josh Davies, Look! I'm BlindJames Mustapic, James Mustapic Is Coming Out (From Under a Rock)Ray O'Leary, Ray Against the MachineBrynley Stent, Soft CarnageLana Walters, Problem Areas 2021 Brynley Stent, Soft Carnage James Mustapic, Inside James MustapicJosh Davies, Look! I'm BlindLana Walters, Problem Areas 2023 Abby Howells, La Soupco Gabby Anderson, Bad-ish TeacherJack Ansett, Are You Taking The Piss?Janaye Henry, Crush SeasonMaria Williams, ADHD...The Musical!?! 2024 Lana Walters, Don't Lick That Advait Kirtikar, New Show, Who Dis?Rhiannon McCall, Toxic Shock BimboLiv McKenzie, CrybabyTough Tiger Fist, Star-Crossed Brothers 2025 Hoani Hotene, It’s Getting Hotene, So Tell Me All Your Jokes David Stuart, The Immortal Legacy of Me Itay Dom, Itay Phone Home Lesa MacLeod-Whiting, Rebellina Booth the Clown/Jak Darling, Delightfool 2026 Joel Vinsen, Renaissance Man Kipling DC, Skuxx Cowboys Get Lonely Sometimes TooSamantha Hannah, Peekaboo!Opeti Vaka, I Love My MumHenry Yan, Mum Wants A Girlfriend (For Me?)
Controversy In 2003, Mike Loder was blacklisted from the 2004 festival after sending fake congratulatory letters to nominees Sully O’Sullivan and Penny Ashton.Richardson, Amie, ‘Prank-pulling comedian finds the joke’s on him,’ (Sunday Star Times: 1/6/03) 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.Scoop.co.nz, press release: ‘Eradicate me: gay and disabled comedian,’ 30/10/05.
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