Home / Arts and Entertainment / Fielding Launches Comedy Prize for North
Fielding Launches Comedy Prize for North
22 Oct
Summary
- Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding started a new comedy writing competition.
- The prize is specifically for emerging writers from the north of England.
- Submissions for the 1,000-word competition open on November 23rd and close February 1st, 2027.
Helen Fielding, the creator of Bridget Jones, has initiated a new award for comedy writing specifically targeting emerging talents in the north of England. The Bridget Jones prize for northern comedy writing will honor the funniest self-contained, first-person prose pieces not exceeding 1,000 words, mirroring the format of the original Bridget Jones diary columns.
Fielding, who herself hails from Yorkshire, emphasized that the prize is for individuals who "aren't famous: just living their lives being quietly hilarious." Aspiring writers residing in the north of England who are neither published nor represented by an agent are eligible to enter without any fee. The winning entry will be awarded £2,000, along with a session with Aitken Alexander Associates and support from New Writing North. A runner-up will receive £1,000.
The judging panel will include Fielding herself, an agent from Aitken Alexander Associates, and a representative from New Writing North. The inaugural winner is set to be announced at the Northern Writers' awards in Newcastle in the summer of 2027, with the prize to be presented by Fielding annually until 2029. Submissions for the prize commence on November 23rd and conclude on February 1st, 2027.
