And Michael Legge named 'best person'

Spencer Jones has won the awards for best Edinburgh Fringe show AND best performer – as voted for by fellow comedians.

The comic, whose show was titled The Herbert In Proper Job, said of doing the double: ‘I’m proper happy, though part of me thinks it’s a wind-up from my mates.’

The Comedians’ Choice Award for best person went to comic Michael Legge, who organised a #sellthisgigout campaign to ensure overlooked comedians had at least one packed performance.

Legge said: ‘It’s a great honour to be recognised – although it was voted on by my peers and that’s a shame, as they’re all cunts. Also – can you have “peers” if you’re the best person?’

A total of 325 votes were cast for the Comedians’ Choice awards (also known as The Barry Awards (UK) after organiser Barry Ferns, not because they are linked to Australia’s biggest live comedy award).

Each show in the comedy section of the Edinburgh Fringe programme was given a vote, and just over a quarter cast them.

The other shortlisted in each category were:

Best Show

Adventures In Limited Space by Jordan Brookes
As Funny As Cancer by Beth Vyse
Bubblewrap by Sofie Hagen
Polyphony by Daniel Kitson
Sea Men (A Naval Tale) by LetLuce

Best Performer

Al Lubel
Spencer Jones
The Story Beast
Tim Renkow
Trygve Wakenshaw

Best Person

Alex Petty of Laughing Horse Free Festival
Bob Slayer of Heroes
Brian Gill Dobie, general manager of the Peartree pub, hub for the Free Festival
Dave Benson Phillips, from TV show turned Fringe event Get Your Own Back
Ryan Taylor, head of comedy at the Pleasance

Here is an extract from Spencer Jones's show:

Published: 31 Aug 2015