Comedian and author Sara Pascoe has been honoured with the inaugural Jilly Cooper award at this year's CWIP (Comedy Women in Print) prizes, a new accolade established to celebrate the spirit of the late author and journalist.
Pascoe's winning novel, Weirdo, follows the chaotic life of its narrator Sophie and has been praised for its "smoothie-maker of a mind" that subverts expectations, according to Guardian reviewer Ella Risbridger. The book's irreverent tone and themes of faith and sexuality have been hailed as a breath of fresh air in modern British literature.
The award recognises writing that embodies the spirit of Jilly Cooper, known for her "brilliant bawdy wit" and support for female writers. Pascoe was one of several winners announced at this year's CWIP ceremony in London, where writer and comedian Helen Lederer praised the growing maturity of the female comic novel.
This year's other notable winners include Nussaibah Younis for Fundamentally, a debut novel about a queer Muslim academic working to deradicalise Isis brides; Holly Gramazio for The Husbands, a satire on modern dating; Natalie Willbe for Music for the Samosa Generation, an unpublished novel exploring intergenerational relationships; and Ruth Foster for A Perfect Year, a self-published novel that tells the story of three families through round-robin letters.
Among the evening's honorary prizes was the witty impact award, given to actor Alison Steadman for her enduring influence across stage, screen, and comedy. The CWIP awards, now in their seventh year, celebrate "witty, intelligent writing" by women and non-binary authors, and Pascoe's win marks a fitting tribute to Jilly Cooper's legacy of supporting female writers.
Pascoe's winning novel, Weirdo, follows the chaotic life of its narrator Sophie and has been praised for its "smoothie-maker of a mind" that subverts expectations, according to Guardian reviewer Ella Risbridger. The book's irreverent tone and themes of faith and sexuality have been hailed as a breath of fresh air in modern British literature.
The award recognises writing that embodies the spirit of Jilly Cooper, known for her "brilliant bawdy wit" and support for female writers. Pascoe was one of several winners announced at this year's CWIP ceremony in London, where writer and comedian Helen Lederer praised the growing maturity of the female comic novel.
This year's other notable winners include Nussaibah Younis for Fundamentally, a debut novel about a queer Muslim academic working to deradicalise Isis brides; Holly Gramazio for The Husbands, a satire on modern dating; Natalie Willbe for Music for the Samosa Generation, an unpublished novel exploring intergenerational relationships; and Ruth Foster for A Perfect Year, a self-published novel that tells the story of three families through round-robin letters.
Among the evening's honorary prizes was the witty impact award, given to actor Alison Steadman for her enduring influence across stage, screen, and comedy. The CWIP awards, now in their seventh year, celebrate "witty, intelligent writing" by women and non-binary authors, and Pascoe's win marks a fitting tribute to Jilly Cooper's legacy of supporting female writers.
I think it's wonderful to see Sara Pascoe being recognized for her unique voice and perspective in literature 
. The way she subverts expectations with her "smoothie-maker of a mind" is truly refreshing and much needed in modern British literature 
. It's also great to see the CWIP awards continuing to champion writing that celebrates female identity, faith, and relationships 
. Pascoe's win feels like a perfect tribute to Jilly Cooper's legacy of supporting women writers, and I'm excited to dive into her novel Weirdo 
!
. I love how they're keeping the spirit of Jilly Cooper alive by celebrating female writers who aren't afraid to speak their minds 
. And can we talk about Nussaibah Younis's book Fundamentally? it's literally the most needed book right now 
. I'm so glad they're doing this award, it's a much-needed recognition for women in comedy and writing 
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. The Jilly Cooper award is a great tribute to her legacy, and I think it's awesome that the CWIP ceremony brought together so many incredible women in comedy and writing 
also, a perfect year sounds like just what i need - a good cry and some juicy gossip 
. It's about time we gave some shoutout to authors like Jilly Cooper who paved the way for future generations of female comedians and writers! 