Richard Herring, the latest Legend Of Lockdown

Prolific comic is another Chortle Award winner

Richard Herring is the latest winner of a Chortle Award for being a Legend Of Lockdown.

The already prolific comedian has stepped up his output even further during the pandemic, by launching the sketch series Twitch Of Fun, with the aid of his 128 year-old ventriloquist’s doll Ally.

He has also continued to produce his hit interview series Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast on video and audio, written his daily Warming Up blog, as well as charting his more solitary activities: playing snooker against himself and setting himself the impossible task of clearing all the stones from a field near his home.

And that’s as well as taking part in other gigs, publishing his book The Problem With Men and, of course, won Taskmaster…

Here are just some of your many comments commending him:

• Stepping up to the plate long before almost anyone else. Investing his own money in gear to provide quality broadcasts from home. Donating a lot of his earnings to support struggling artists and/or venues. Consistently producing content week-in week-out for FREE and none of this £8 for a half-assed show shonkily broadcast from a laptop cam and stalling internet connection in a broom cupboard. I could go on… John Bone

• He has delivered solid gold comedy night and day throughout Covid. Honestly, he’s made an unbearable year seem almost worth the pain, just to see him getting in-offs on his regulation snooker board, and marvel at his woke-eschewing puppets. He’s like marmite; you either love him, hate him, or you can take him or leave him. Hero of lockdown. Steven Burnett

• Richard’s prodigious output during the Covid pandemic has made such a positive difference… My father died suddenly in October and I have been regularly travelling between home in Nottinghamshire and my parents’ home in Wales. Very, very grim times but having so much wonderful content from Richard to distract me on the long journeys and lonely days isolating at home has been nothing short of a blessing. As well as that, Richard’s fundraising support for other comedians and comedy venues during incredibly tough economic times must also be recognised and rewarded. Richard is an absolute star.  Huw Lynd-Evans

• Easily the most inventive and hilarious comedian on the internet. He has provided quality entertainment throughout the lockdown, for free despite many concerned but unenlightened fans thinking he was having some kind of breakdown. Richard’s output is currently bordering on genius David Robinson

• He’s documented a mans slide into insanity better than anyone in these crazy times  Phil Evans

Here is Richard's acceptance speech

We are announcing new winners at around 1pm, 3pm and 5pm every day this week, picked from almost 8,000 nominations.

The 2021 Chortle Awards are supported by Audible, a leading provider of spoken-word entertainment, including exclusive comedy podcasts from the likes of Alan Partridge, Kurupt FM and French & Saunders. Currently, new members can sign up for three months for a total of just 99p - details are here.

Sam Bryant, Audible’s head of comedy, said: ‘Defying all the problems of lockdown, creative people have been doing brilliant work to keep the country entertained at a time when it’s most needed, and they deserve recognition and support.’

Here are our previously announced winners:

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Live At The Covid Arms

Citation: Live At The Covid Arms is always going to be top of any list for a Legends Of Lockdown. Started by stand-up Kiri Pritchard McLean, it has welcomed acts including Frankie Boyle, Nish Kumar, Harry Hill and Lolly Adefope alongside up-and-coming acts and broken a Guinness World Record for the most visitors to a virtual pub at 6,321. Crucially, the gigs have raised £137,000 for food bank charity The Trussell Trust – and also paid comedians in a year when earnings are thin on the ground.

Your comments

• Her comedy club was lovely, hilarious, positive, always so friendly, joyful and a complete life-saver. She features unknown comics and musicians and gave thousands to charity. Amazing! Eva-Luise Schwarz

• The gigs have brought light and laughter to the dark days of lockdown and raised a phenomenal amount of money for worthy causes....and were just like a gig in the living room. Jen Simpson

• Unbelievable effort especially in the early days where show were weekly they were at the forefront of developing the zoom gig. This was the highlight of our week, introduced us to lots of new people, Kiri fantastic host. Supporting an important cause as well as comics. Kathy Hanson

• It created a community out of something bleak (isolation) and it was practical, immediate help - get comedians/musicians online and let us pay what we could afford. I'm on my own, no family, and a key worker in the prison service/NHS, the gigs were a reminder there's good, kind people in the world and took my mind off things enough to laugh for a bit. Anonymous

Acceptance speech:

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John Robertson

For: His Robbotron Twitch stream.

Citation: Best known, pre-lockdown, as the creator of the interactive live show The Dark Room, John Robertson has quickly become a remarkably prolific presence on the streaming channel, producing multiple themed shows a week, including Crap Video Games Night and Sunday Lunch With Your Dad. He’s an inventive, high-energy quick-thinking host, fully interacting with his audience’s contributions in the chat, creating a supportive community of like-minded fans, who have found escape and companionship in the show. He’s also raised almost £50,000 for charity over the year, half of it from a 48-hour marathon playing of his impossible adventure game.

Your comments:

• ‘[I nominate him] For the wonderful and funny community he has created on Twitch. He manages to stream for at least 2hrs six times a week, doing improv whilst also somehow making a safe space for people who are maybe having not such a great time during lockdown. His humour and the community he has created have helped to make me feel not so alone whilst being lone at home!’ Princessfinch

• ‘Genuinely, this man has kept our family sane and given us immense accounts of joy since March last year. He has consistently streamed almost every day (doing multiple daily shows!), not only doing his Dark Room show, but also creating a wide range of characters based on throwaway comments and random items sent in to him. I cannot thank him enough and he is completely deserving of all accolades. He is a true legend of lockdown.’ Anonymous‘John's been not only raising thousands for charity. He's been streaming a variety of content every week, with whatever gets you through, whether that's a 35-year-old-anime fan who thinks he's a cat, a gossipy Pope, an MUD Guardian who wants to kill you, or just a wholesome Sunday Lunch with your Dad. But most importantly, this wonderful, welcoming, utterly supportive community has built up around him, and it's an utter joy to be a part of, week after week. Diverse, perverse, wholesome, yet awful: John Robbertson's Twitch is a lifesaver for lockdown.’ Ruth B

• ‘John has reinvented comedy in the lockdown era using innovative, creative Twitch streams and working so hard he barely has a minute to breathe and relax. His dedication to entertainment is unstoppable.’ Tom Cologue

• ‘John Robertson has expertly tailored his live show to be fully digital but remain interactive with us, the fans. I can not count the number of times John has bounced off numerous material provided by myself and other members of his community. When you're in lockdown and feeling isolated, John Robertson really goes a long way in making sure you aren't a viewer in his stream, but included in every action he undertakes and continues to strive to make every viewer equal and special. He makes you believe that he could be in your living room performing just for you and enjoying your company and jokes for himself. Versatile and well rounded with many character sketches, funny use of objects like his shovel of ducks but most importantly, his genuine love for comedy and us, his fans that he time and time again makes sure are the most important part of his stream. ‘ Curt Webb

• ‘His Twitch channel, Robbotron, has been an absolute lifeline and bright spark throughout 2020 and continues to go from strength to hilarious strength. His quick reactions to anything that happens in the chat and his vast array of characters are works of genius and the community built around the streams is a great comfort for many. For someone that has only just passed their one-year stream anniversary, he's raised an immense amount of money for charity and has grown a very strong following. Adapting from stage performances to online streaming daily couldn't have been easier, but John has done amazingly and is well deserving of this award.’ Anonymous

Acceptance video:

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Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris

For:Their Tuesday Night Club hosted by Always Be Comedy

Citation: Like many of the regular comedy shows staged during the lockdown, the pair’s homespun broadcasts - featuring comedy, audience chat and lip-syching – have built a great sense of community among regular audiences… but the giddy sense of daft joy is unique.

Your comments:

• Just amazing comedy. Marcus and Rachel have created something truly special in Tuesday Night Club - the comedy is fantastic and the community they have created is amazing. Tuesday night is a highlight of the week! Charlie Mitchell

• I have been shielding since March and Tuesday Night Club has kept me sane. They are the highlight of my week. Karen Dunlop

• They've given us deep joy at Tuesday night club since last summer and it's been brilliant! It's a lovely community to be a part of and they've enveloped us all into one big family! Liz Knowles

• Tuesday night club has been a ray of sunshine, giggles, Tunnocks tea cakes and hope.  Thank you Cathy Collins

• For giving out the most amazing, fun entertainment from their living room every week in Tuesday Night Club, shining a light for their audience through some dark, tough times whilst going through tough times themselves. Legends. Betty B

• Their lip-syncs were hilarious and authentic and creative and uplifting and unexpected and brilliant Amy B

• Awesomeness every Tuesday with this amazing pair. The best songs and games and stand up delivered with love and joy  Samantha

Acceptance speech:

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Alistair Green 

For: His online videos

Citation: Shot in a stark white room, his short videos on Instagram and Twitter, have reflected the ups and downs of the pandemic with a slyly satirical bent and a series of perfectly realised caricatures. He had already established himself as something of a Twitter star even before lockdown, with compilations of his videos even being screened at the Prince Charles Cinema in the heart of the West End, but the last year has only increased his reach.Just how astutely he’s captured the mood of the nation is reflected in the fact that more than 250 people put his name forward for this award.

You said:

• His Instagram and comedy have pulled me out of some of the lowest parts of lockdown. He is just uplifting and bloody hilarious, tapping into reality comedy  Bethany

• He portrays some of the best and invented, perfectly nuanced characters. Even if I’m cringing so hard it hurts, I’m laughing. Stuart Yarham

• His little relatable Instagram videos have been an absolute godsend during the pandemic. He captures so many of life's characters effortlessly with both satire and also charm.  Carla Morris

• Brilliant regular content all through lockdown. From off the cuff Instagram lives, to the many characters and faces he creates. Alternative daily briefings, curry nights and even a Xmas day dinner live. This man is hilarious and has made the past year much better. Daniel Hendry

• A gradual mental breakdown channeled through his brilliantly observed characters and filmed against a stark white wall in his flat in Deptford. Could anything be more 2020/1? His general content is one of the best takes on British culture that I've ever seen and what he would say is his more throwaway stuff (e.g. the takedowns of the government press briefings, Cummings et al) has diffused my rage with laughter and made me feel like I'm not just locked in the house alone, shouting at my TV. He has also been doing lengthy Instagram lives which are loyally attended by his true fans (the "wheat") and have been genuinely comforting as well as hilarious. Nobody has done more to help me during this pandemic, including the government. Ciara Simmons

• His observational skits on Twitter are superb. Sometimes creepy, but always superb! Warren Dunhill Lloyd

• He does the right video at the right time and always hits the spot and gets the general feeling. He’s hilarious.  Emer McCormack

• I‘m pretty sure Alistair has made a Faustian pact that the more he suffers for his art the more successful he will be. And we both love and hate watching him suffer. If he doesn’t win it will be a hell of a waste of a Faustian pact. Carmen Smith

• Versatile, observational, comedy which makes you cringe, laugh and knowingly nod at the same time. I am in awe how he can capture so many people . Every word is perfection and the videos are a highlight of lockdown  Suzanne Sells

Acceptance video:

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Janey Godley

For: Her social media activity, especially the voicovers

Citation: They say laughter is the best medicine… but few comedians have been credited with having a major public health impact. Janey Godley’s affectionate re-voicing of Nicola Sturgeon’s Covid briefings into more direct language have been cited as a reason for Scotland’s high compliance rates - by none other than the Wall Street Journal. But for most people, they are just a laugh, part of her lively Twitter feed that often includes some very public shaming of trolls. Some of her voiceovers on the platform, which also range from Meghan Markle to wildlife clips, attract hundreds of millions of views, while she also hosted a virtual Burns Night supper  during lockdown that attracted more than 320,000 viewers.

Your comments:

• Most spontaneously entertaining comedian. Her takes on the First Minister of Scotland have been spot-on and supported awareness of the Covid effort messages. A1- entertainment and public health information service all rolled into one. Karen Macdonald

• She has taken the darkest moments of this year with her voice over videos, and not only helped us laugh - but has actually delivered the message to a wider audience than most politicians.  Online content every day, it's been a godsend for many.  Tom Urie

• ‘Her voiceover videos have been so uplifting,  but have made such really good point and pushed to get key messages over’ Claire W

• ‘She's actually pulled me back from the edge.’ Kenny Martin

Acceptance video:

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Mark Olver

For: Belly Laughs charity gig and Who Said That? panel show

Citation: Olver has raised more than £33,000 for a gig that celebrated the very best of Bristol, a city of which he’s rightly proud, as well as devising and hosting 27 episodes of a panel show that gives opportunities to up-and-coming comedians alongside some of the biggest names in the business, while providing a relaxed, funny show for the audience on YouTube.

Your comments:

• [Who Said That?] is funny, first of all. It's random, no real rules and yet the delightful illusion of it being an actual quiz! I think they handle the zoom format very well, and when it goes wrong they incorporate that into the comedy. I think Mark is such a great host, no pressure he is the king. Helen Swan

• He's raised a fortune for charity while championing comedy acts up and coming and established. Bristol legend. Rachel Dibben

• [Who Said That?] is an innovative and funny show that started as a ‘project’ to keep the producer and creator Simon busy whilst the TV industry was shutting down. Not only that but it features a lot of up and coming talent. It’s a great watch and provides an easy and entertaining watch. Anonymous

• So easy to watch when my lockdown brain is in a frenzy, introduced me to lots of comics I've not seen before as well as familiar faces. Easily accessible as simply posted on YouTube. Relaxed style feels a bit like mucking about with your mates at the pub, and you can play along too. Really funny with minimal political content therefore giving me a lovely break from reality. Anonymous

• [Belly Laughs was] an incredible online event that pulled Bristolians together for a night of lockdown comedy and raised over £40k while at. Appearances for Stephen Merchant, Russell Howard, Jon Richardson was a treat too! Josh

Acceptance speech:

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Archie Henderson, aka Jazz Emu

For:  A prodigious output of inventive, witty and trippily surreal music videos on YouTube and Twitter over the past year.

Your comments: 

• Utterly joyful, funkadelic pop songs. Hilarious, imaginative videos with an incredible  attention to detail and high-end production values. Regular Twitter/Instagram/Tik Tok comedy shorts: either lip-sync parallel universes or Jazz-Emu-is-struggling-with-a-situation, spectacular, one-minute-wonder songs. Each offering has been eagerly awaited throughout lockdown and brings delight to the ongoing sludge of our days.  Gemma Ball

• His content is absolutely hilarious and has kept me going during lockdown. Really relatable, incredibly detailed topics set to music - bloody fantastic and can’t believe he’s made so many funny videos at this crap time!  Rhiannon Hopkins

Acceptance video:

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Rob Sedgebeer

For: Being the tech king of comedy

Citation: Rob Sedgebeer will be known to some as the co-host of the interactive entertainment show WiFi Wars alongside comic Steve McNeil, which was created with his coding and game design skills. But he has also been instrumental in helping comedians adapt to the new online world, masterminding the tech behind Mark Watson’s 24-hour shows and the fantasy shows Questing Time and Comic Relief Plays Dungeons & Dragons, raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity en route.

Comments from some of the comedians he's worked with

• ‘Without Rob's technical genius, programs like the two Watsonathons and the Weekly Questing Time & WiFi Wars shows would be impossible, plus the tech support he's offered to other comedians during the pandemic which has kept online comedy a viable way of paying mortgages etc.’ Rufus Hound

•  ‘Rob has been the technical support behind loads of live comedy shows that otherwise wouldn't have happened, or would have been shit. He built, coded and ran the systems that broadcast The Whatsonathon, Questing Time, Comic Relief Plays D&D 1, Wifi Wars's charity shows and many others. Also, he's unfailingly helpful and has assisted many more shows than he's been able to operate. And he's nice, humble and modest - he'd never usually get the credit he richly deserves.’ Paul Foxcroft

• ‘He is the technical wizard behind so many comedy shows and charity fundraisers streamed live… Without him, those shows would not have happened. He gives up so much of his time to make others happy.’ Briony Redman

Acceptance video:

Published: 24 Mar 2021

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