NZ Comedian Scores Break On U.K. Radio

MEDIA RELEASE: MON. 19 MARCH (Photo attached)

NZ Comedian Scores Break On U.K. Radio Ben Hurley Follows In Footsteps Of Conchords

After winning the 2004 Billy T Comedy Award Wellington comedian, BEN HURLEY used the prize money to export himself to the U.K. where he has spent the last 2 years breaking on to the competitive live Pro-touring circuit there.

Late last year he was invited to record 2 segments for Comedystore TV, a showcase of top comedians working in the U.K. that has subsequently aired on the Paramount Comedy Channel in 2007.

This week he was confirmed for a role as a 'Kiwi bloke' in a new 7 episode BBC Radio sitcom, a show pitched by his mentor and friend, English comedian ANDY PARSONS, who had a sellout season at last years NZ International Comedy Festival.

HURLEY's continued success in the U.K. follows in the footsteps of his friends, Wellington duo, THE FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, who also recorded a series for BBC Radio before forging their break in the USA.

HURLEY attributes his good fortune to the support he has received from the international comedians he met in New Zealand during the Comedy Festival including ANDY PARSONS, STEWART LEE and PHIL NICHOL.

It was PARSONS who invited HURLEY to support him on a National Tour in the U.K. soon after he arrived there and during the tour the two drafted an idea for a radio series involving the friendship between a Brit and a Kiwi bloke. Last week BBC4 accepted the idea and commissioned a 7 episode series that will star both PARSONS and HURLEY.

BEN HURLEY arrives home at the end of March for 2 months which will include a variety of appearances in the annual Comedy festival, sometimes performing in 2-3 shows a night.

Sat 31 March / COMEDY ON WAIHEKE with Jeremy Corbett & Nik Coppin from England

During the 2007 NZ International Comedy Festival; Thu 3 May / 5 STAR INTERNATIONAL COMEDY PREVIEW / SKYCITY Theatre, AK City Tues 8 to Sat 19 May / THE BIG SHOW / The Crunchie Comedy Chamber , Ak Town Hall @ The EDGE / Guest spot / 8:45pm Thu 10 May / Opening support for STEPHEN K. AMOS / Genesis Energy Theatre, Manukau / 8pm Fri 11 & Sat 12 May / Opening support for STEPHEN K. AMOS / SKYCITY Theatre, Ak City / 8pm Wed 9 to Sat 12 May / LATE & LIVE @ The Classic, 10pm

HURLEY will also be performing in his home town, Wellington during the 3rd week of the 3 week festival.

For further information or connections to BEN HURLEY please contact producer Scott Blanks at The CLASSIC Ph 093734321 / 0275508647 / scott@comedy.co.nz.

Celebrating 10 years at the home of live comedy!

Kind regards Scott Blanks Director of The Classic - NZ's Home of Live Comedy 321 Queen St - Auckland - NZ PO Box 7705 - Wellesley St - Auckland Ph 64-9-3734321 / www.comedy.co.nz

Celebrating 10 Years on Queen St

ENDS

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