The annual search for New Zealand's most promising new talent in comedy has begun. The nominees for the 2007 Billy T Award are Alex Hawley, Grant Lobban, mrs.peacock and Jamie Bowen.

Inspired by and named after New Zealand's much-loved legendary comedian, Billy T James, the awards were started by the New Zealand Comedy Trust, with the aim of ensuring continued growth of live comedy in NZ.The annual search for New Zealand's most promising new talent in comedy has begun. The nominees for the 2007 Billy T Award are Alex Hawley, Grant Lobban, mrs.peacock and Jamie Bowen.

Inspired by and named after New Zealand's much-loved legendary comedian, Billy T James, the awards were started by the New Zealand Comedy Trust, with the aim of ensuring continued growth of live comedy in NZ.The winner of The Billy T Award receives a $5000 cash grant.

The Awards are now in their eleventh year and are a proven benchmark for new comedians. Previous winners have included; Cal Wilson, Ewen Gilmour, Te Radar, Sugar and Spice, Philip Patson, Humourbeasts, Mike Loder, Paul Ego, Brendhan Lovegrove, Jan Maree, Ben Hurley, Dai Henwood, Sam Wills and Cori Gonzalez Macuer. This elite group of Billy T winners went on to successfully carve out a career in the demanding comedy genre. Last year's winner, Cori Gonzalez Macuer, toured the U.K. for two months and his 2007 show will play in Auckland at the Comedy Underground in May.

The 2007 nominees were selected for their proven comedic ability, talent, dedication, current form and potential, and will be judged on all aspects of their Festival show. Final judging will take place at the LAST LAUGH, Festival Awards night on Sunday 27 May, at the Comedy Chamber, THE EDGE ®, in Auckland.

The 2007 Billy T judging panel includes Andrew Szusterman (Station Manager for C4 Television), Nigel McCulloch (The Down Low Concept, producers of Off The Wire & Pop Goes The Weasel), Louise Hunter (BLP Ltd - comedy promoter), Dai Henwood (star of C4's "Insert Video Here") and Jon Bridges (ex-Ice TV, all round good guy)

The nominees are:
Alex Hawley (Wellingtonian winner of the 2006 National RAW final)
Grant Lobban (The Classic's Ticket Guy takes to the stage as The Comic's Comic)
mrs.peacock (musical comedy duo, two times winner of the NZ Comedy Guild Award for "Most Offensive Gag")
Jamie Bowen (Melbourne Comedy circuit regular and former member of comedy trio GARY).

The Billy T Award is part of the 2007 New Zealand International Comedy Festival:
Auckland: 4 - 27 May
Wellington: 7 - 26 May
Nationwide Comedy Convoy: 21 - 26 May