Zimbabwean Medical Student Wins Top Comedy Award

Riki Msindo - a University of Bristol Medical Student from Zimbabwe Wins Chortle Student Comedy Awards 2023

Riki Msindo, a fifth-year medical student hailing from Zimbabwe, achieved an extraordinary feat by clinching the esteemed Chortle Student Comedy Awards 2023, solidifying his position as one of the most promising talents in the stand-up comedy scene.

In a fierce competition against nine other student comics from across the UK, Riki Msindo captivated both the audience and the judges with his vibrant and captivating style of comedy.

Riki Msindo

The much-anticipated final event took place at Up The Creek in Greenwich on July 12, brilliantly hosted by the renowned Bristol-born comedian, Mark Watson. The show was broadcast on Radio 4 Extra the following night, amplifying the reach of this remarkable event.

The Chortle Student Comedy Award has consistently been a platform for emerging comedic talents, propelling the careers of notable stars like Joe Lycett, Ed Gamble, Chris Ramsey, Simon Bird, and Tom Rosenthal.

Riki Msindo is already actively involved in the Bristol comedy scene, co-hosting the popular podcast "Oh Captain My Captain" alongside fellow comedian Mark Olver. The podcast features A-listers in the comedy world, including Jimmy Carr, Russell Howard, and former Chortle Student Comedy Award winner, Joe Lycett.

For Riki Msindo, comedy was in his blood long before he even set foot at the University of Bristol. At the tender age of twelve, he was taken to see Trevor Noah, an experience that ignited a lifelong passion for observational comedy.

His appetite for humour was insatiable, consuming countless episodes of the BBC's "Mock the Week" to hone his craft.

Msindo draws inspiration from his unique experiences of growing up in both Zimbabwe and England, skillfully infusing the idiosyncrasies of both countries into his comedic repertoire.

Alongside his demanding medical degree, Riki Msindo squeezes in multiple gigs each week, a testament to his unwavering dedication to comedy. His exceptional journey earned him a place among the finalists of the Chortle Student Comedy Awards 2023, where he competed against Muhsin Yesilada, a fellow University of Bristol student pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology.

As part of their recognition, all finalists of the Chortle Students Comedy Awards 2023 were invited to open the comedy tent at the esteemed Latitude Festival in Suffolk on Friday, July 21.

Impressed with the diverse range of talent showcased in this year's final, Chortle editor Steve Bennett had the difficult task of selecting the winner from the ten outstanding young comedians. Riki's charm and wit ultimately won the day, but Bennett expressed confidence that all the finalists are destined for remarkable careers in comedy.

Having spent a significant part of his childhood in Zimbabwe before relocating to Bedfordshire at the age of eight, Riki Msindo discovered his passion for medicine during a three-week hospitalization due to a severe burn injury. Despite his success in comedy, he remains committed to his medical aspirations and is poised to embark on his first job as a doctor in Brighton, following his graduation from the University of Bristol.

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