Including the first black British women to be shortlisted

The nominees have been  announced for Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards,.

There are nine nominees for Best Comedy Show:

• Darren Harriot: Good Heart Yute @ Pleasance Courtyard
• The Delightful Sausage: Ginster’s Paradise @ Monkey Barrel
• Demi Lardner: Ditch Witch 800 @ Gilded Balloon Teviot
• Goodbear: Dougal @ Pleasance Dome
• Ivo Graham: The Game of Life @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Jessica Fostekew: Hench @ Monkey Barrel
• Jordan Brookes: I’ve Got Nothing @ Pleasance Courtyard
• London Hughes: To Catch A D**k @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Spencer Jones: The Things We Leave Behind @ Pleasance Courtyard

Awards director Nica Burns said of the shortlist: 'An intense nine hours of debate over two days resulted in a wonderfully wide-ranging shortlist of nine. For the first time ever, two double acts doing sketches joined by three physical comedians and four stand-ups".

'And the 2019 newcomer’s shortlist promises an exciting future for comedy. They make us laugh as they examine the issues that matter to millennials through stand up, songs and sketches.

The nominees for best newcomer are:

• Crybabies: Danger Brigade @Heroes@ Boteco
• Catherine Cohen: The Twist….? She’s Gorgeous @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Helen Bauer: Little Miss Angel Baby Face @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Huge Davies: The Carpark @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Janine Harouni: Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated) - Edinburgh Fringe 2019 at Chortle.co.uk">Stand Up with Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated) @Pleasance Courtyard
• Michael Odewale: #BLACKBEARSMATTER @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Nigel Ng: Culture Shocked @ Pleasance Courtyard
• Sophie Duker: Venus @ Pleasance Courtyard​

Hughes becomes the first black British woman to be nominated in the main category, and Duker the first black British woman to be in the running for best newcomer.

The Pleasance again dominates the list, with six of the nine on the best show list and all but one of the eight possible best newcomers.

Luke Hales, channel director for Dave, added: 'The diverse range of fantastic talent nominated today reflects the outstanding depth of comedy that the Edinburgh Fringe has to offer.  

'This year it has been an immense honour for the channel to become sponsor of the Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards, and these nominees prove why we at Dave have been so excited to get even more involved in supporting upcoming and established comedians at the festival.  Our many congratulations to all those nominated!"

The panel saw more than 750 eligible comedy shows to select the nominees.

Stephen Fry and 2018 best comedy show winner, Rose Matafeo will announce the winners on Saturday lunchtime.

The best comedy show, comes with a cash prize of £10,000, with £5,000 prizes for best newcomer and for the winner of the Panel Prize.

This is the first year Dave has sponsored the award, long known as the Perrier, and whose other backers have included Foster’s and lastminute.com

Published: 21 Aug 2019