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The award started with two categories, published and unpublished novels. Part of the prize for the winner of the unpublished category has been a publishing offer with HarperCollins.
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]
| 2019 | Published Comedy Novel | Electric Monkey | Marian Keyes, Kathy Lette, Katy Brand, Shazia Mirza, Jenny Eclair, Allison Pearson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Cow Girl | HarperCollins | Fanny Blake, Susan Calman, Martha Ashby, Jennifer Young, Lara Marshall, Karen McPherson | ||
| 2020 | Published Comedy Novel | Reasons to Be Cheerful[7] | Penguin Books | Lolly Adefope, Marian Keyes, Emma Kennedy, Pauline McLynn, Joanna Scanlan, Laura Steven | |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy | HarperCollins | Yomi Adegoke, Fanny Blake, Kate Bradley, Grace Campbell, Kirsty Eyre, Jennifer Young, Rachel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 | Was it… Too Much for You? | ||||
| Humorous Graphic Novel | Cassandra Darke | ||||
| Flash Fiction (Women in Pants) | |||||
| 2021 | Published Comedy Novel | Dial A for Aunties[8] | HQ | Joanne Harris, Maureen Lipman, Steph McGovern, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Nina Stibbe, Susan Wokoma | |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | HarperCollins | Sarah Shaffi, Martha Ashby, Faye Brann, Gloria Hunniford, Thanyia Moore, Dr Jennifer Young | |||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) | Llewella Gideon | ||||
| 2022 | Flash Fiction (Faux Pas Flash) | ||||
| 2023 | Published Comedy Novel | Factory Girls | John Murray | Susie Blake, Michelle de Swarte, Anita Dobson, Angie Greaves, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Arabella Weir | |
| Unpublished Comedy Novel | Happy Above Us re-titled Home Sick for publication | HarperCollins | Charlie George, Llewella Gideon, Liz Hoggard, Rebecca Rogers, Lucy Stewart,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 | Wahala | John Murray | |||
| Flash Fiction (Festive Flash) | Deborah Frances-White | ||||
| Comedy Short Story (in collaboration with Farago) | Sorry, Delivery | Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Abbie Headon, Yasmeen Khan, Olga Koch, Ria Lina, Chrissie Manby |