20 years after winning it

The League of Gentlemen are to present this year’s lastminute.com Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, and co- writer Jeremy Dyson will be in Edinburgh on Saturday to hand over the prize.

They won it 20 years ago, when it was still called the Perrier.

Nica Burns, the director of the awards says: ‘The League of Gentlemen won the award in 1997 over an outstanding shortlist: Al Murray, Graham Norton, Johnny Vegas and Milton Jones. Who at the time, would have thought that all the shortlisted acts would become household names?

‘The League have gone on to be incredibly successful writers as well as performers, equally at home in drama as with comedy. They have worked consistently across all entertainment strands, equally brilliant whether on television, film, on stage in the West End or writing books and scripts. 

‘We are delighted to welcome them back to the Edinburgh Fringe where their work was first created and recognised.’

The League of Gentlemen have been plotting some sort of reunion, possibly for next year, and are flying to Edinburgh especially for the ceremony.

They will be joined by last year’s winner, Richard Gadd, to present the accolades.

Edinburgh comedy award shortlists are revealed some time tomorrow.

Published: 22 Aug 2017