Sydney comic takes out Barry Award for best show

LOOPY Sydney comic Sam Campbell has won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2018 Barry Award for most outstanding show.

LOOPY Sydney comic Sam Campbell has won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 2018 Barry Award for most outstanding show.

Campbell’s show The Trough caused an upset by triumphing over more high-profile nominees, including Lano and Woodley, Tim Key, Celia Pacquola and Helen Bidou (Anne Edmond’s alter ego).

Campbell also appeared in Bidou’s Enter The Spinnaker Lounge as her son, Connor.

SAM CAMPBELL RAISES THE BAR IN THE TROUGH

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL REVIEWS

“Thanks to my family and friends, oh f---. Anne Edmonds is the best comedian in the world,” Campbell said in his acceptance speech which included a Nicolas Cage high kick.

2018 Barry Award winner Sam Campbell.

Campbell is a Ted Talk speaker, member of comedy troupe Skills In Time and star of Nippers on Comedy Central. He won the Directors’ Choice Award in 2016 for Zanzoop with Tom Walker, Aaron Chen and others.

Returning after a 12-year hiatus Colin Lane and Frank Woodley won the People’s Choice Award for their smash hit Fly. Lano and Woodley have added August dates after their sold out run capped a massive return for the surreal, slapstick comics.

Danielle Walker’s Bush Rat won the Best Newcomer Award, Laura Frew and Michelle Brasier’s Double Denim won the Directors’ Choice Award, Demi Lardner’s I Love Skeleton won the The Pinder Prize, Cam Venn’s Charles Horse Lays An Egg won the Golden Gibbo Award.

The Comedy Festival concludes on Sunday night.