Shortlists announced at the Fringe

The nominees have been announced for this year's Edinburgh comedy awards.

They are:

Best show

• Amy Gledhill: Make Me Look Fit on the Poster (Review)
• Catherine Bohart: Again, With Feelings (Review)
• Chris Cantrill: Easily Swayed  (Review)
• Josh Glanc: Family Man  (Review)
• Natalie Palamides: Weer (Review)
• Reuben Kaye: Live and Intimidating (Review)
• Sarah Keyworth: My Eyes Are Up Here (Review)

Best newcomer

• Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows (Review)
• Demi Adejuyigbe: Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip (Review)
• Jack Skipper: Skint
• Jin Hao Li: Swimming in a Submarine (Review)
• Joe Kent-Walters: Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: Live!!! (Review)

Nica Burns the director of the awards, said: '2024 is an outstanding year for comedy with our shortlist ranging from clowning to character comedy to musical comedy and traditional stand-up.

'For the first time ever, we have a Best Comedy Show shortlist where male-identifying comedians are in the minority with representation across gender and sexuality spectrums, and comedians from the Midlands and North of England lead the list, alongside comedians from Australia, Ireland and America.

'The nominees are united by an ability to create jokes out of every situation, combining some serious insights with a high laugh rate. This year’s focus is on personal experience rather than political issues." '

And Nana Hughes, chair of the judging panel, added: 'With 563 shows to review, our panel and scouts team – the latter all former panelists - have collectively watched over 1,500 hours of comedy in three weeks to get to our shortlists.

'The process is thorough and rightfully so when the Edinburgh Comedy Awards can have such an impact on comedians’ careers.

'The best newcomer shortlist is extraordinary and reflects the diversity and talent of emerging comedians. It is incredibly exciting to be able to see the next stars of tomorrow, with one of them graduating to stand up from TikTok. The future of comedy is bright.'

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh on Saturday. The best show will receive £10,000 with £5,000 for both best newcomer and the panel prize, which has no nominees.

The best newcomer award is sponsored for a second year running by DLT Entertainment, a production company which owns several comedy agencies as well as London's Shaftesbury Theatre.

DLT Entertainment owner Donald Taffner Jr, pictured above with Burns, is also backing the main award, which has been renamed the Donald and Eleanor Taffner Best Comedy Show in honour of his parents.

The Victoria Wood Foundation sponsors the panel prize with Nica Burns, whose company Nimax owns several West End theatres,  also putting in funding.

DLT Entertainment owner Donald Taffner Jr is this year extending his backing, with the main award being renamed the Donald and Eleanor Taffner Best Comedy Show in honour of his parents, who founded the company.

The judging panel for the awards – now in their 42nd year – is:

Nana Hughes: head of scripted comedy at ITV
Dominic Cavendish: theatre critic at The Daily Telegraph
Liz Daramola: creator in residence at Baby Cow Productions
Georgia Keating: producer at BBC Studios Comedy and Entertainment
Dominic Maxwell: comedy & theatre critic for The Times and The Sunday Times
Anya Ryan comedy & theatre critic at The Guardian, The Times, Time Out, The Stage
Darren Smith: creative director at DLT Entertainment Ltd
Sam Anderson: Public panellist
Jake Helliwell: Public panellist
Beth Moon: Public panellist

Published: 21 Aug 2024