The sun has set on another cracking year at Melbourne Comedy Festival so let’s have a look at the award winners, the not so winners (losers) and everything else worth talking about that took place at one of the greatest comedy festivals in the world.

Winner winner chicken dinner

Hannah Gadsby walked away with the iconic Barry Award (naming her as the best show of this year’s festival). Third time’s the charm for Gadsby after being nominated a previous two times. Up against her this year were fellow Australian comedians Sammy J, Anne Edmonds, Damien Power and Tom Walker; and British performer Richard Gadd. Hannah’s winning show, Nanette, was a collection of poignant stories telling of the homophobic abuse she once suffered. Despite finally winning acclaim, she has said this is her final stand-up show. Hannah will take the hour to Edinburgh Fringe this August before returning to her home state of Tasmania.

She praised Melbourne and the festival for getting her this far; 'Thank you to the festival very much because I doubt I would do stand-up comedy without this festival and the situations they set up. I don’t have the constitution. I wouldn’t have fought it out in a pub. This festival has done a lot to encourage different voices so thank you for the support.' Plus Hannah was in ‘Please Like Me’ so that’s basically enough to win an award anyway.

Fellow nominee Tom Walker was hoping for a win, so confident in fact he got this tattoo before the winner was even announced:

Other brilliant shows

So it’s not all big names and award shows. There are 100s of shows to catch each year and this year one of the true highlights was the latest hour from Neal Portenza.

It’s kind of hard to describe but imagine a Looney Tunes cartoon come to life filtered through GIPHY via The Exorcist. Really funny, very bright colours, loud noises and occasionally pretty dark. One of my favourite performers ever? Believe it.

Also, storming out of left field and into the hallowed halls of Best Newcomer Nominations were Fringe Wives Club and their show Glittery Clittery. A trio of highly skilled performers who’ve previously made names for themselves in other shows (Tessa Waters, Vicky of East End Cabaret and Rowena Hutson) now joined forces to provide a glitter filled hour of hilarious and musical female empowerment.

If you missed out on the brilliant shows at Melbourne Comedy Festival then just hop on over to Perth. The Perth Comedy Festival kicks off on Saturday 29th April and runs through until the 21st May.

Top Picks:

• NEAL PORTENZA - P.O.R.T.E.N.Z.A.
• PAUL FOOT - 'TIS A PITY SHE'S A PIGLET
• DAVID O’DOHERTY - BIG TIME

What’s that? Perth is too far away? Well yeah, I get that. Head on over to Sydney! The Sydney Comedy Festival is on NOW until the 21st May as well. Fancy that.

Top Picks:

• AARON CHEN - THE INFINITE FACES OF CHENNY BABY
• DJ DOUGGPOUND (USA) - LIVE!
• GUY MONTGOMERY - LET'S ALL GET IN A ROOM TOGETHER

(Douggpound worked on Tim and Eric so that’s that case closed go see him)

And that's that!