Garth Marenghi has won this year's Perrier Award for his Edinburgh show Netherhead.

The group who created the spoof horror writer - Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade and Alice Lowe, will take home £5,000 as well as the kudos associated with the title, as well as appearing in showcase gigs in London and Edinburgh.

Garth Cruicshank and Eddie McCabe won the award for best newcomer for their show Let's Have A Shambles. Other shortlisted newcomers were Andy Zaltzman for his show Andy Zaltzman Versus The Dog Of Doom and the Cambridge Footlights for Far Too Happy

The awards were presented by Jenny Eclair and Tommy Tiernan at the Edinburgh Fringe. Last year's winner Rich Hall was unable to hand over the award because he was performing at the time.

The other nominees for the main award were Dan Antopolski, Jason Byrne, Adam Hills and Daniel Kitson.

When the shortlist was announced, award director Nica Burns, said: "It has been an extraordinary year for comedy. I am delighted with the high standard across many shows. 2001 has been an excellent year.

"Congratulations to the highly talented comedians on the shortlist and a large round of applause to the many comics who have been giving thousands of punters a terrific night out."

Published: 25 Aug 2001