Drag artists, cabaret artists, burlesque performers, comics, magicians, and more have applied for a chance to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner and current champion, Crudi Dench. The Champion will walk away with £1,000 in prize money, thanks to sponsor Malibu, a 12-month contract with Dabbers Social Bingo and a luxury hotel stay.
Crudi Dench said, “Winning Dabbers Next Top Bingo Caller has allowed me to explore a whole new passion of bingo calling, put my hosting skills to the ultimate test, interact with brilliant audiences, connect with other fabulous performers and £1,000 towards my wig budget.”
Dabbers is truly the brand that reinvented bingo, with regular nights hosted by top comics including Tony Law, Marcel Lucont, Olaf Falafel, Eleanor Conway, Thanyia Mooore, Aurie Styla and Javier Jarquin. The company has comedy and performance at the heart of everything it does, with the team visiting The Edinburgh Festival every year to scout for new talent, to keep events as raucous and fun as they can possibly be.
The competition is a way to search for new callers and presenters who the team might not otherwise come across, and sometimes Dabbers catches them just as they make a bid for stardom.
2022’s finalists were character comedians Kitty Cassis (Aimee Cooper), Edgar and Jaynine (Lorna Rose Treen – double award winner, Funny Women Awards 2022 – and Jonathan Oldfield), Ferrari Roché (Stephanie Ware) and of course, the winner, Crudi Dench (Matt Stallworthy, comedian and drag performer).
This year’s competition is being held at Dabber’s HQ in Houndsditch London EC3 (4 minute walk from Aldgate Tube), with semi-finals in May and grand final in July. Each heat is hosted by BBC New Comedy Award finalist and Edinburgh Festival favourite Sikisa Bostwick, with a judging panel made up of agents, festival bookers and journalists, with special guest judge for the Final, Miles Baron, CEO of The Bingo Association.
SEMI FINALS – 14th and 28th May
8 Contestants, 4 perform each weekend, 2 from each show go through to the Final
THE FINAL – July 2nd
4 Contestants compete to win the title of Dabbers Next Top Bingo Caller 2023!
You can follow the competition online via @dabbersbingo #DabbersTopCaller
