213:, was inaugurated in 2006. All shows are eligible, and the award may not be awarded at all, if the panel so choose. This happened in 2017, when for the first time there were joint winners of the main prize. Previously, in 2008, it had been awarded to "every comedian on the Fringe". Like Best Newcomer, the Panel Prize winner receives a cash prize of £5,000.
205:
category was introduced in 1992 for Harry Hill, and is given to the best "performer or act who is performing their first full-length show (50 minutes or more)". The prize is £5,000. Newcomers are eligible for the Best Comedy Show Award, but no act is allowed to appear on both shortlists in the same
554:
which ran from 2001 to 2006, and aimed to promote access to safe supplies of drinking water and sanitation in developing countries; these awards were suspended for 2007 due to "having beaten Nestlé". Multiple winners were chosen each year, including established comedians like
Stewart Lee and
235:
in 1973 for theatre. However, revues, then the dominant type of comedy at the Fringe, were excluded. The first
Perrier in fact advertised itself as for the "most outstanding revue", thus overlooking stand-up, which was beginning to emerge as a force due to the influence of the
571:
The 2002 awards were criticised because no female acts were shortlisted, the second consecutive year in which that was the case. In 2009, they were again criticised for all the nominees being male, as well as all being white, English and all performing at the same venue, The
376:
In 2014, John Kearns became the first comedian to win Best
Newcomer and Best Comedy Show in consecutive years. In the same year, James Meehan was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award with Gein's Family Giftshop, while winning the panel prize with Funz and Gamez.
283:
revue members had always been able to find success in light entertainment, so the effect of the award on their careers may be exaggerated. Nonetheless, the 1981 Award retains symbolic power for new comedians wanting to find fame at the Fringe.
501:
In order to avoid confusion due to the frequency of name changes, past winners are now often said to have won "the Eddie", a popular colloquial term for the award, rather than referring to a specific year's sponsor.
267:
played at St Mary Street Hall and was promoted in the programme with the line, "one of the strongest casts for several years, has already toured in southern
England with great success." The award was presented by
395:
became the first non-white comedian to win Best Comedy Show for a solo show, and the first New
Zealander to win the award. Only four other female solo stand-up comedians had won the award before her:
524:
461:
In March 2009 Intelligent
Finance announced it would not be renewing its sponsorship deal. The 2009 awards were known as the Edinburgh Comedy Award, sponsored by
1445:
498:
2024 saw DLT Entertainment expand its sponsorship to include both the DLT Entertainment
Newcomer Award as well as The Don and Eleanor Taffner Best Comedy Show.
1367:
193:, is awarded "for the funniest, most outstanding, up-and-coming comic / comedy show / act" at the Fringe. The winner receives a cash prize of £10,000.
1520:
1515:
1068:
1530:
961:
585:
610:
1209:
358:
The panel prize was awarded to 'all performers' in 2008, and the £4,000 prize money was put behind their bar at the end of August party.
1535:
1155:
162:, and also briefly known by other names for sponsorship reasons) are presented to the comedy shows deemed to have been the best at the
1545:
754:
869:
928:
527:, leading to calls to boycott or to eliminate the awards taken up by some Fringe venues and performers, including former winners
225:
in 1981 as a way of supporting young talent. Prior to this, there had been no award recognition for comedy shows on the Fringe.
1031:
841:
310:
897:
787:
1550:
297:
287:
Many other award winners and nominees have gone on to forge successful careers in comedy and the media industry including
1243:
814:
590:
446:, during which time they were known as the Perrier Comedy Awards. Sponsorship then passed to the Scottish-based bank
361:
2013 was the first year that all three awards went to shows in independent venues outside the so-called 'big four'.
344:
A stand-up first won the award in 1987. Sean Hughes was the youngest winner of the award, at the age of 24 in 1990.
697:
666:
637:
1473:
1340:
729:
163:
51:
1375:
1129:
1540:
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556:
540:
338:
987:
1418:
431:
419:
381:
362:
902:
792:
288:
244:
447:
232:
1266:
279:
The later success of these initial winners would boost the profile of the awards. However, former
1182:
560:
237:
128:
1313:
422:. She was the first person to be nominated for involvement in two shows in the same year since
1217:
1163:
936:
544:
520:
488:
477:
466:
370:
404:
366:
117:
91:
1450:
1194:
1095:
1073:
874:
1291:
442:
From their inception in 1981 until 2005 the awards were sponsored by mineral water brand
1345:
1005:
473:
462:
423:
302:
269:
171:
1509:
846:
573:
528:
492:
408:
385:
334:
329:
260:
252:
1292:"Live Stand-Up Comedy | HIDEAWAY – London's premier live music and comedy club"
988:"Comedy Awards nominees, Rhys Nicholson, Sam Campbell - Mark Muldoon's Fringe Diary"
532:
415:
396:
392:
306:
292:
273:
227:
106:
87:
1042:
536:
450:
and for 2006, the first year of their involvement, the awards were known as the
430:
became the first solo transgender act to be nominated for the main prize, while
427:
400:
352:
324:
256:
248:
17:
662:
348:
314:
175:
1221:
1210:"The Edinburgh comedy awards have been saved. But are they a fringe benefit?"
1167:
940:
186:
The main prize, which was for many years the only prize, and is now known as
1116:
818:
701:
516:
483:
For 2023, each award currently has a separate sponsor, being sponsored by
1009:
543:, led a campaign of protest against the award, beginning in 2001, called
341:
has said that he is "arguably the least successful winner" of the award.
280:
170:. Established in 1981, they are the most prestigious comedy prize in the
167:
61:
670:
418:
was nominated for best newcomer as a solo act, and best show as part of
443:
222:
484:
638:"Can Nica Burns save the comedy awards formerly known as Perrier?"
380:
In 2017, for the first time, two awards were given for Best Show (
1422:
1397:
962:"Rose Matafeo wins Best Comedy Show at Edinburgh comedy festival"
1500:
929:"Edinburgh award champ Rose Matafeo's Horndog is a comedy smash"
139:
27:
Annual awards for comedy shows at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
1419:"Tap Water Awards: Having beaten Nestlé, we're having a rest"
434:
was the first winner of the main prize to do a shorter run.
870:"Artistic anarchy: 70 years of Edinburgh's Fringe Festival"
319:
525:
International Code of
Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes
243:
The inaugural award and £1,000 prize was presented to the
71:
Perrier Award, if.comeddies, if.comedy Awards, Dave Awards
1156:"TV channel Dave is new Edinburgh comedy awards sponsor"
842:"The Edinburgh Fringe, or The Great Big Comedy Takeover"
667:"The Birth of the Comedy Awards: Nica Burns Looks Back"
1446:"Saunders Bemoans Absence of Female Standup Comedians"
1341:"Perrier Judges Name the Cream of Edinburgh's Comedy"
1314:"Boycott Perrier: Newman Calls for Corporate Protest"
730:"Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 judging panel revealed"
692:
690:
688:
611:"Edinburgh reports: time to stand up for the Perrier"
755:"Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2015: The nominees in full"
465:. From 2010 until 2015 the awards were sponsored by
351:, and in 2006 the inaugural Panel Prize was won by
134:
124:
113:
102:
97:
83:
75:
67:
57:
47:
39:
34:
1374:. babymilkaction.org. 14 June 2006. Archived from
898:"How Comedy Captured the Edinburgh Fringe: Part 4"
788:"How Comedy Captured the Edinburgh Fringe: Part 2"
781:
779:
777:
775:
347:A Best Newcomer Award was added in 1992, won by
174:. The awards have been directed and produced by
1154:correspondent, Mark Brown Arts (11 July 2019).
550:The Nestlé boycott also led to the alternative
373:(Heroes @ Bob's Bookshop) won the panel prize.
1454:. independent.co.uk (Arts & Entertainment)
1032:"Intelligent Sponsor for the Oscars of Comedy"
120:– Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: LIVE!!!
8:
1474:"Comedy Judges 'myopic' for Pleasance picks"
472:From 2016 the awards have been sponsored by
559:, and, in the award's final year, promoter
79:£10,000 (Main prize), £5,000 (Other prizes)
1069:"Edinburgh comedy prize loses its sponsor"
817:. edfringe.com. 1 May 2009. Archived from
815:"Past winners of the Perrier Comedy Award"
125:Victoria Wood Award (Formerly Panel Prize)
31:
1130:"Edinburgh Comedy Awards bag new sponsor"
922:
920:
103:Don and Eleanor Taffner Best Comedy Show
601:
388:). No panel prize was awarded in 2017.
1190:
1180:
1041:. if.com. 14 June 2006. Archived from
728:Guide, British Comedy (25 July 2024).
586:List of Edinburgh Comedy Award winners
698:"Eligibility Rules – Edinburgh Comed"
609:Cavendish, Dominic (24 August 2005).
7:
1368:"Nestlé Pulls Plug on Perrier Award"
723:
721:
719:
700:. Comedyawards.co.uk. Archived from
1006:"Perrier Ends Edinburgh Comedy Tie"
523:based on alleged violations of the
1117:"Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards"
221:The original award was created by
25:
1521:British comedy and humour awards
1516:Edinburgh Festival Fringe awards
1444:Arika Akbar (23 November 2007).
1339:Imogen Tilden (22 August 2001).
563:for his Free Fringe initiative.
519:, the subject of a long-running
109:– Make Me Look Fit on the Poster
1531:1981 establishments in Scotland
927:Logan, Brian (25 August 2018).
515:In 1995, Perrier was bought by
114:DLT Entertainment Best Newcomer
1067:Andy McSmith (21 March 2009).
868:Searle, Maddy (11 July 2017).
840:Venables, Ben (22 July 2017).
369:(The Stand) won Best Show and
188:The Donald and Eleanor Taffner
1:
896:Venables, Ben (6 June 2017).
786:Venables, Ben (6 June 2017).
636:Lee, Veronica (3 June 2009).
480:began to sponsor the awards.
272:, who had performed with the
1318:Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide
1208:Logan, Brian (7 July 2023).
1567:
1536:Awards established in 1981
495:Foundation, respectively.
298:Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
1546:Edinburgh Festival Fringe
1267:"Edinburgh Fringe Awards"
365:(PBH) won Best Newcomer,
164:Edinburgh Festival Fringe
52:Edinburgh Festival Fringe
1119:Retrieved 13 August 2010
1244:"Comic has all answers"
263:. Their show, entitled
247:, a cast that included
156:Edinburgh Comedy Awards
35:Edinburgh Comedy Awards
1246:. The Scarborough News
420:The Delightful Sausage
337:. Australian Comedian
209:A further prize, the
160:Perrier Comedy Awards
1551:Culture in Edinburgh
1294:. Hideawaylive.co.uk
1048:on 20 September 2009
734:British Comedy Guide
245:Cambridge Footlights
1265:Shuttleworth, Ian.
615:The Daily Telegraph
463:AbsoluteRadio.co.uk
458:for 2007 and 2008.
448:Intelligent Finance
311:Alexander Armstrong
203:Best Newcomer Award
1398:"Baby Milk Action"
1193:has generic name (
704:on 7 December 2010
591:Joke Of The Fringe
561:Peter Buckley Hill
454:, changing to the
238:alternative comedy
994:. 25 August 2022.
489:DLT Entertainment
371:Adrienne Truscott
200:DLT Entertainment
152:
151:
84:Currently held by
16:(Redirected from
1558:
1489:
1488:
1486:
1484:
1470:
1464:
1463:
1461:
1459:
1441:
1435:
1434:
1432:
1430:
1421:. Archived from
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968:. 25 August 2018
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886:
884:
882:
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858:
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854:
837:
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830:
828:
826:
821:on 14 April 2005
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742:
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709:
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683:
682:
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678:
669:. Archived from
659:
653:
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633:
627:
626:
624:
622:
606:
552:Tap Water Awards
545:Baby Milk Action
476:until 2019 when
456:if.comedy awards
405:Bridget Christie
367:Bridget Christie
265:The Cellar Tapes
191:Best Comedy Show
148:
145:
143:
141:
118:Joe Kent-Walters
92:Joe Kent-Walters
32:
21:
1566:
1565:
1561:
1560:
1559:
1557:
1556:
1555:
1541:Scottish comedy
1526:Scottish awards
1506:
1505:
1497:
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1472:
1471:
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1451:The Independent
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1426:
1425:on 12 June 2007
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1396:
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1379:
1378:on 10 June 2008
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1271:Financial Times
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1074:The Independent
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875:The Independent
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440:
231:had introduced
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184:
138:
68:Formerly called
28:
23:
22:
18:If.comedy award
15:
12:
11:
5:
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1562:
1554:
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1503:
1496:
1495:External links
1493:
1491:
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1410:
1389:
1359:
1346:guardian.co.uk
1331:
1320:. 24 July 2001
1305:
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1234:
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1146:
1121:
1109:
1087:
1059:
1023:
1012:. 14 June 2006
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771:
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654:
642:Guardian.co.uk
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512:
509:
507:
504:
474:lastminute.com
467:Foster's Lager
439:
436:
424:Dan Antopolski
303:Richard Ayoade
270:Rowan Atkinson
218:
215:
183:
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172:United Kingdom
158:(formerly the
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1501:Official site
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1372:Press Release
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1098:chortle.co.uk
1097:
1091:
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1044:
1040:
1039:Press release
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673:on 9 May 2008
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557:Robert Newman
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529:Emma Thompson
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493:Victoria Wood
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409:Hannah Gadsby
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386:Hannah Gadsby
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339:Brendon Burns
336:
335:Chris Addison
332:
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330:Mock the Week
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309:, double act
308:
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271:
266:
262:
261:Tony Slattery
258:
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253:Emma Thompson
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233:Fringe Firsts
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142:.comedyawards
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42:
38:
33:
30:
19:
1481:. Retrieved
1478:The Scotsman
1477:
1468:
1456:. Retrieved
1449:
1439:
1427:. Retrieved
1423:the original
1413:
1401:. Retrieved
1392:
1380:. Retrieved
1376:the original
1371:
1362:
1350:. Retrieved
1344:
1334:
1322:. Retrieved
1317:
1308:
1296:. Retrieved
1286:
1274:. Retrieved
1270:
1260:
1248:. Retrieved
1237:
1225:. Retrieved
1214:The Guardian
1213:
1203:
1171:. Retrieved
1160:The Guardian
1159:
1149:
1137:. Retrieved
1134:Giggle Beats
1133:
1124:
1112:
1100:. Retrieved
1090:
1078:. Retrieved
1072:
1062:
1050:. Retrieved
1043:the original
1038:
1026:
1014:. Retrieved
1000:
992:Comedy.co.uk
991:
982:
970:. Retrieved
965:
956:
944:. Retrieved
933:The Guardian
932:
907:. Retrieved
901:
891:
879:. Retrieved
873:
863:
851:. Retrieved
845:
835:
823:. Retrieved
819:the original
809:
797:. Retrieved
791:
762:. Retrieved
759:The Guardian
758:
749:
737:. Retrieved
733:
706:. Retrieved
702:the original
675:. Retrieved
671:the original
657:
645:. Retrieved
641:
631:
619:. Retrieved
614:
604:
570:
551:
549:
533:Steve Coogan
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617:. London
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517:Nestlé
511:Nestlé
485:Sky TV
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