By Dylan Moran
Guy Williams has won the 2012 Billy T Award, an honour the comedian says will be big news in his hometown of Nelson.
The award, named after legendary entertainer Billy T James, is New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy accolade.
“In Nelson they think I’m kind of a big deal because I’ve been on TV before” says Williams. “My mum still rings me up and goes ‘Nelson’s on the news’. And then you turn on the news and it’ll be something like ‘there’s been a robbery’. It’s really a big achievement to be on TV in Nelson.”
Williams got a lucky break after being selected as the winner of a competition to learn off veteran comedian Dai Henwood and open for him in 2009. Since then, he’s appeared on multiple TV shows.
“Dai letting me open for him at his show here in Auckland was the start of my career… it exposed me to the producers on The Jono Project and it got me my job on television,” he says.
The famed yellow towel is awarded to one of five nominees at the final event of the NZ International Comedy Festival – along with $2500 in prize money and an appearance on 7 Days.
Entrants must pitch their show a year in advance, complete with a funding plan.
Williams beat Tom Furniss, Tevita Manukia, TJ McDonald and his girlfriend, Rose Matafeo, to claim the title.
“I won but she had a better show than me… the people from the festival told me not to talk about that too much,” he says.
Williams says performing at the festival allowed him to get in touch with his fans and get feedback – a rare occurrence.
“Normally when you run into people on the street they’re always like ‘saw you on TV mate!’ and they never mention that they enjoyed it or anything like that, they’re always just ‘saw you on TV mate!’ and I’m always like ‘glad you enjoyed it’ [and they’re like] ‘didn’t say I enjoyed it.’”
Along with appearing on 7 Days, Williams will also have a role on upcoming series Hounds – though his heart is in live comedy.
“Stand up came first for me,” he says. “It’s a really nice compliment to be able to do both of them.”
NZ International Comedy Festival award winners:
Billy T Award – Guy Williams
The Fred Award – Rhys Darby
Best International act – Idiots of Ants
Best new act: Auckland – Brendon Green
Best new act: Wellington – Hayley Sproull
Best Marketing – TJ McDonald
3 News
source: newshub archive
