After winning the 2004 Billy T Comedy Award, Wellington comedian Ben Hurley used the prize money to export himself to the UK where he has spent the last two years breaking in to the competitive live pro-touring circuit.

Following in the footsteps of Wellington duo Flight of the Conchords, Hurley was this week confirmed for a role in a new seven-episode BBC Radio sitcom.After winning the 2004 Billy T Comedy Award, Wellington comedian Ben Hurley used the prize money to export himself to the UK where he has spent the last two years breaking in to the competitive live pro-touring circuit.

Following in the footsteps of Wellington duo Flight of the Conchords, Hurley was this week confirmed for a role in a new seven-episode BBC Radio sitcom.The show was pitched by his mentor and friend, English comedian Andy Parsons, who had a sellout season at last year's NZ International Comedy Festival.

Hurley attributes his good fortune to the support he has received from the international comedians he met in New Zealand during the Comedy Festival. It was Andy Parsons who invited Hurley to support him on a National Tour in the UK soon after he arrived there and during the tour the two drafted an idea for a radio series involving the friendship between a Brit and a Kiwi bloke.

Ben Hurley arrives home at the end of March for two months, during which time he will perform in the annual Comedy festival.

19/3/07