Billy T' Billy

The New Zealand Herald
  • 0.0 (0)
  • COMEDY INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY
Billy T' Billy

The Billy T Award is one of the most prestigious honours a New Zealand comedian can win. Named after the legendary comedian Billy T James, this award celebrates the best emerging performer at each year’s Comedy Festival. Since 1997, the prize has been won by comedians that have gone on to become household names – including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rose Matafeo and Dai Henwood On this season of Billy T' Billy, the New Zealand Herald is spotlighting this year’s nominees – Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams - in conversation with previous Billy T and Fred Dagg award winner, as well as celebrating 30 years of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. 

  1. 28 MAY

    Abby Howells and 2024 winner Lana Walters

    In this special one-off bonus episode, 2023 winner Abby Howells hands over the yellow towel to 2024 winner, Lana Walters. They discuss their experiences winning and the aftermath, their writing and standup processes, how Abby has found winning the award, what Lana has found being a new mum and a standup, and how still needs to change for women in comedy.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min

  2. 30/05/2023

    Brynley Stent and 2023 winner Abby Howells

    2021 Billy T winner Brynley Stent trades jumbo-sized towel tips with this year's winner Abby Howells. The comedic champs talk about Howells' award-winning show, her being open on stage about being on the autism spectrum, and Stent embracing her frigid reputation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    51 min

  3. 22/05/2023

    Comedy today - James Roque, Joseph Moore and Urzila Carlson

    Billy T' Billy has made it to the last ten years of New Zealand comedy. Taking us on today's tour are scene standouts Joseph Moore and James Roque. Then, host Rhys Mathewson talks to Urzila Carlson, who in just over a decade has risen to be a star in both Aotearoa and Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min

  4. 15/05/2023

    The turn of the century - Dai Henwood, Justine Smith, Irene Pink and Rhys Darby

    Standup stalwarts Irene Pink, Dai Henwood, and Justine Smith take Rhys Mathewson through what was good and bad about comedy twenty years ago and what has changed for the better. Hint: It's got way more people performing that aren't straight dudes. On the international side, Rhys Darby explains how encouragement from British performers convinced him to spread his wings and pursue his comedic craft outside of our island nation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 hr

  5. 08/05/2023

    Back to the '90s - Jeremy Corbett, Michele A'Court and Paul Horan

    Veteran comedians Jeremy Corbett, Michele A'Court take host Rhys Mathewson through the beginning of Aotearoa's standup scene, and writer and co-founder of the NZ International Comedy Festival and The Classic Comedy Club Paul Horan explains how overseas comics like Bill Bailey and Simon Pegg were enticed to our shores. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 1m

  6. 01/05/2023

    Maria Williams and Guy Williams

    2023 Billy T nominee Maria Williams is joined by 2012 Billy T winner - and her brother - Guy Wiliams to discuss their family's comedy roots, mental health and politics in comedy, the highs and lows of musical theatre, and Guy's advice Maria isn't in.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min

  7. 24/04/2023

    Janaye Henry and Eli Matthewson

    2023 Billy T nominee Janaye Henry is joined by 2021 Fred winner Eli Matthewson to discuss their writing, rehearsing and standup styles, performing for queer audiences, talking about exes and partners in their sets, and competing against friends for awards.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    52 min

  8. 17/04/2023

    Jack Ansett and Jonny Brugh

    2023 Billy T nominee Jack Ansett is joined by 1998 Billy T winner Jonny Brugh to discuss New Zealand comedy in the 90s, sketch versus standup, if awards are important, TikTok, and Jonny's experiences on the set of Thor.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
See All (15)

About

The Billy T Award is one of the most prestigious honours a New Zealand comedian can win. Named after the legendary comedian Billy T James, this award celebrates the best emerging performer at each year’s Comedy Festival. Since 1997, the prize has been won by comedians that have gone on to become household names – including Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Rose Matafeo and Dai Henwood On this season of Billy T' Billy, the New Zealand Herald is spotlighting this year’s nominees – Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams - in conversation with previous Billy T and Fred Dagg award winner, as well as celebrating 30 years of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. 

Information

More From The New Zealand Herald

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada