The Comedy Women in Print Award was announced on 3rd November 2025, during a sparkly evening at London’s Groucho Club. The award, which is the brainchild of comedian, author, and actress Helen Lederer, aims to recognise, celebrate and encourage witty women authors.
We all know the power of women supporting women, and that’s one reason why the Comedy Women in Print prize is such a great idea. Something truly special happens when women are recognised and come together to celebrate and support the diverse stories we all have it in us to tell.
The panel of judges, including comedian Kerry Godliman, TV personality Susannah Constantine, and author Chrissie Mandy, had their work cut out for them. The longlisted and shortlisted entries all sounded amazing, but congratulations to the winners who triumphed on the night.
Published & People’s Choice Winner: Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
Nadia is an academic who’s been disowned by her puritanical mother and dumped by her lover, Rosy.
She decides to make a getaway, accepting a UN job in Iraq. Tasked with rehabilitating ISIS women, Nadia becomes mired in the opaque world of international aid, surrounded by bumbling colleagues.
Sara is a precocious and sweary East Londoner who joined ISIS at just fifteen.
Nadia is struck by how similar they are: both feisty and opinionated, from a Muslim background, with a shared love of Dairy Milk and rude pick-up lines. A powerful friendship forms between the two women, until a secret confession from Sara threatens everything Nadia has been working for.
Dame Jilly Cooper Award – Weirdo by Sara Pascoe
Deep in Essex and her own thoughts, Sophie had a feeling something was going to happen, and then it did.
Chris has entered the pub and re-entered her life after Sophie had finally stopped thinking about him and regretted what she’d done.
Sophie has a chance at creating a new ending and paying off her emotional debts (if not her financial ones). All she has to do is act exactly like a normal, well-adjusted person and not say any of her inner monologue out loud. If she can suppress her light paranoia, pornographic visualisations and pathological lying, maybe she’ll even end up getting the guy she wants? Then she could dump her boyfriend Ian and try to enjoy Christmas.
Unpublished Winner – Music for the Samosa Generation by Natalie Willbe
When perimenopausal Yasmin launches a community choir and involves her headstrong mother and rebellious teenage daughter, she learns how much she has underestimated them and herself. But then the differing needs of all the choir members threaten to disrupt Yasmin’s dream.
Self-Published Winner – A Perfect Year? by Ruth Foster
If you thought the round robin letter was dead, think again…
It’s 1990s England. Ali and Caroline are neighbours but not friends in leafy Upley Rising. Ali battles with money troubles and multiple children, while Caroline has rock star connections and always gets what she wants. Then there’s respectable Robert, the third neighbour, whose life takes an unexpected turn.
Every December, Ali, Caroline and Robert write up their year’s news into cheery round robin newsletters for everyone they know. What a wonderful year it’s been: Charles has been promoted twice, Max is the school orchestra’s top tuba player, and Clementine’s child modelling career progression is meteoric. But what about the longstanding local murder mystery? Or the strange goings on at Upley Rising’s 300-year-old summer festival?
Who can you really believe?
The ceremony also awarded prizes to celebrities Alison Steadman (the Witty Impact Award) and to Tameka Empson (Game Changer Award).
Details on how to enter the Comedy Women in Print Award 2026 will be available on their website next year.
The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop, by Katie Ginger, written as Annabel French, is out now!
