Kitson takes Perrier

...but takes a dig at comedy prizes

Daniel Kitson has won this year's Perrier Award.

The 25-year-old from Denby Dale, wins £7,500, as well as the kudos associated with comedy's most prestigious award.

Sketch troupe The Consultants were named best newcomer.

Also nominated were Natalie Haynes for her show Six Degrees Of Desolation, American comic Reginald D Hunter for I Said What I Said and Hal Cruttenden for Hal.

Kitson said that he had not intended to attend the prize-giving because "I find such events massively uncomfortable".

He read a prepared speech, saying he was grateful for the award and thanked hi smanager and his parents - for never insisting he get a proper job.

And he joked about the validity of judging comedy, saying: "I would like to thank the juding panel for doing away with the tradition of the subjectivity of art."

Perrier comedy award director Nica Burns said: "With such great comedians on the shortlist, the final decision was terribly difficult. I am very glad that I don't have a vote. Congratulations to all the shortlist and of course to Daniel Kitson who is undoubtedly a major new comedy star. I look forward to a cracking Perrier Pick Of The Fringe season at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End."

The other nominees - selected by a ten-strong panel of critics, producers and comedy-goers - were

Last year's winners - the team behind the Garth Marenghi character - presented the award at the Edinburgh Fringe.

A small group of good-natured protestors gathered outside the event, handing out leaftlets highlighting what they claim are unethical business practices by Perrier's parent company Nestle.

Published: 25 Aug 2002