After three intense semi-final heats and a stacked Komedia New Comedy Award final, we unveiled our 2026 KNCA Award winner, Michael Campuzano, pictured above alongside runners-up Shannon Ong, Oro Rose, and George Harvey (photo by James Ennis).
The Crawley-based binman with Spanish roots was the unanimous winner, as judged by a panel featuring Arts Journalist Victoria Nangle, Comedy Coach & Stand-Up Comedy Teacher Jill Edwards, Komedia Co-Founder Marina Kobler, Komedia General Manager Jamie Patterson, Chortle Editor Steve Bennett and Beyond the Joke Editor Bruce Dessau.
We sat down with Michael for a Q&A to get to know him a little better.
Watch our interview here, or scroll to read the transcript.
How does it feel to have won the KNCA for 2026?
It feels really amazing. Everyone was so good that I genuinely didn’t expect it!
What’s your first memory of comedy?
Probably when I got a Lee Evans DVD when I was maybe 10? I used to watch a lot of Harry Hill’s TV Burp, that used to make me laugh.
When watching those shows, did you think “I could do that”?
I didn’t think it was something that I could do or would want to do, when you see stuff on TV you just don’t think you’re ever going to be able to do that, but it did make me go and try and replicate it at school and try and make my classmates laugh.
So, you were the class clown?
I tried to be. I don’t know how many people that went to school with me would agree, but I did get a buzz off making people laugh. I would sacrifice my grades a bit, risk getting sent out of class just to get a little laugh out of my classmates. That definitely inspired me to pursue it.
When was your first gig?
I did my first gig in April 2025 at the Branding Needs Work. I turned up and I spoke to Simon Harriet who runs it and I just said “I’m a comedian, I’d love to have a spot at some point” … Then, five minutes later he came up to me and he said, “someone’s dropped out, do you want to go on?”. There were laughs, then some titters and a bit of quiet in between laughs so it wasn’t like punch, punch, punch, but I was happy with just one!
So, does it come naturally to you?
I don’t know. I do try and gig as much as I can and I do spend a lot of time writing. I’m constantly trying new jokes, so I don’t know if it comes naturally, but I’ve always just been really keen to make people laugh at any cost – from a young age that’s sort of been sort of instilled in me.
How would you describe your comedy to someone who has never seen you?
I would say slightly observational and also a bit deadpan. So far, it’s all been about me and my life, with a mix of some observational stuff. I think you can see who I’ve watched and who I’ve enjoyed by the rhythm of my delivery: I’d say there’s a bit of Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan in terms of the rhythm of the punchline, that’s definitely because I’ve watched and admired them.
I wouldn’t be where I am now without Jill
What made you decide to join Jill Edwards comedy course?
I was on holiday in Australia; me and my missus did a group sort of thing where we went with a group of strangers. It was a tour and we went up the East Coast; we got to know everyone by the end of it. At the end of the tour there were jokey awards being given out and I remember being, for some reason, desperate to win the Class Clown award. I don’t know why it was so important to me.
I remember saying to my missus “I’ve been putting a shift in here for the last three weeks I better win that award!” and then when I got home from Australia I thought, if that was so important to me, why don’t I just give it a go?
That’s when I went online and found Jill Edwards Comedy Workshops. I definitely needed it to have the confidence to initially get up on stage. I wouldn’t be where I am now without Jill.
You speak in your set about your day job, working as a binman. Do you think we need to see more working-class representation in comedy?
I don’t know where it’s come from, but I’ve always had the impression you’ve got to be a really educated person and really intelligent to be a comedian. There are loads of comedians like Jimmy Carr who went to Cambridge, Simon Brodkin, who’s a doctor – I just thought “that’s not for me ‘cos I’m not that”. But you don’t actually need to be a brain surgeon to do it, so maybe that message needs to be more widespread!
What has been your favourite gig so far?
Comic Boom Comedy Club, here at Komedia. My family came, my mum, girlfriend and her mum, it was really special. I’m doing a 10-minute spot back there on December the 30th 2026 and I can’t wait.
What’s so special about Komedia?
The atmosphere is just electric whenever you go and see anyone here. It’s a really nice stage, they always put on a great show here, the staff are really nice and really welcoming – it’s just a really nice vibe.
What’s next for Michael Campuzano?
I’ve got a couple of open spots at pro nights so I’m just going to pursue that and do my best there, hopefully make a good impression and be asked back. I’m going to keep writing jokes, gigging and growing and hopefully I can make something of this.
Finally… Madrid or Crawley?
Oh god that is tough. it’s like Sophie’s Choice, where do you even go!? I’ll have to say Crawley. I have to back my hometown.
Interview by Liam Holister, Social Media Coordinator at Komedia.
The Komedia New Comedy Awards are presented in association with Jill Edwards & Vicky Nangle.
