Vote now...

More than 5,500 comedy fans have now voted in the Chortle awards for the best live comics of the past 12 months.

Tim Minchin heads the nominees, with further nods for the likes of Frank Skinner, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard and Dylan Moran.

The Australian musical sensation has three nominations: for best variety act, best full show and best DVD, while Dara O Brian, Rhod Gilbert and newcomer Pippa Evans all have two nominations apiece.

O Briain faces Mock The Week co-stars Boyle and Howard in the battle for best touring theatre show, with the fourth nomination going to Moran.

The genial Irish host also has a shot at best stand-up DVD, where he’s up against Skinner – who will be hosting the event – Minchin and Stewart Lee.

This is also the first year a husband and wife have been nominated for separate awards, with Lee’s wife Bridget Christie up for best breakthrough act.

The shortlists were drawn up by a panel of comedy industry experts, and will now be decided on by Chortle readers. Click here to vote. Polls close at 3pm on February 12. Readers can also vote on the favourite venues, while comedians can have a say in the comics' comic choice.

The awards, now in their eighth year, will be given out in central London on February 24. The event is sponsored by FremantleMedia Enterprises.

The full list of nominees is.

Best newcomer
(sponsored by leading independent comedy label PIAS Comedy)
Mike Wozniak
Pippa Evans
Daniel Simonsen
Seann Walsh

Breakthrough act
Sarah Millican
Andrew O'Neill
Bridget Christie
Carl Donnelly

Best compere
Dan Nightingale
Alun Cochrane
Stephen Grant
Rufus Hound

Best headliner
(also sponsored by the awards’ headline sponsor FremantleMedia Enterprises)
Andrew Maxwell
Paul Sinha
Rhod Gilbert
Milton Jones

Sketch, variety or character act
Count Arthur Strong
Tim Minchin
Pippa Evans
Wilson Dixon

Best full show
Rhod Gilbert And The Award-Winning Mince Pie
Richard Herring: The Headmaster's Son
David O'Doherty: Let's Comedy
Tim Minchin: Ready For This?

Best theatre show
Dylan Moran: This Is It
Russell Howard: Dingledoodies
Dara O’Briain
Frankie Boyle

Best DVD
Stewart Lee: 41st Best Stand-up
Tim Minchin: So Fucking Rock
Dara O’Briain Talks Funny
Frank Skinner Stand-Up

Best use of stand-up on TV or radio
Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better (R4)
4 Stands Up (R4)
Another Case Of Milton Jones (R4)
Live At The Apollo (BBC One)

The judges who decided the shortlist were Chortle reviewers Steve Bennett, Julia Chamberlain, Corry Shaw and Nione Meakin; critics Tim Arthur from Time Out, Bruce Dessau from the London Evening Standard, Julian Hall from the Independent and Marissa Burgess from the Manchester Evening News; plus BBC radio producer Ed Morrish and Shane Murphy from sponsors FremantleMedia Enterprises.

Published: 5 Feb 2009