Comics named for Edinburgh showcases

The comedians taking part in this year's Best in Class scheme to champion working-class voices in comedy have been announced.

They will take part in a daily showcase at the Edinburgh Fringe, paid for by crowdfunding and by a series of gigs across the UK in the run-up to the festival.

The comics are: 

Tamsyn Kelly: Comedian, writer and director who grew up in Penzance and has featured on Channel 4, BBC 3 and BBC Radio 1.

Jed Salisbury: A regular on the UK comedy circuit who recently featured on the BBC documentary Who Are You Calling Fat.’

Laura Smyth: An East Londoner, pictured, who won the Funny Women Stage Award last year. 

Lovdev Barpaga: Birmingham based comic who has appeared on BBC Asian Network Comedy and was 2017 UK Pun Champion. 

Anna Thomas:  A Welsh comic who has been praised for her 'delightfully grumpy and gruff delivery'.

Chris Copestake: Originally from Grimsby, Chris was one of the Circuit Breaker acts championed by the Leicester Comedy Festival last year. 

Sam Mayes: A 'cheeky' Geordie comic with  tales of love, life and booze.

Nathan Eagle: Winner of the Portsmouth comedian of the year competition 

Published: 27 Jan 2020