27 August 2011
Adam Riches, Humphrey Kerr and one off show The Wrestling have been named as winners of the 31st Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
The Awards were presented by last year’s Best Comedy Show winner Russell Kane and West End musical star and 2002 nominee, Omid Djalili.
The award for Foster’s Best Comedy Show goes to Adam Riches: Bring Me the Head of Adam Riches.
The award judges said, "Adam Riches’ trademark mix of character comedy, anarchic stagecraft and a fearless level of audience engagement has grown from strength to strength with each festival. This latest breathtakingly funny and original mix of characters ups the visual ante and creates a cavalcade of barely controlled chaos featuring Ian Dustry the talent manager, Pedro the swingball star, O'Hara the monster hunter, the wheelchair-bound despot behind the board game Mastermind and Daniel Day-Lewis: the most successful actor ever to appear in nobody’s favourite film."
The award for Foster’s Best Newcomer goes to Humphrey Ker is Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher!
The award judges said "In 1943, Agent Dymock Watson of the Special Operations Executive, an elite unite of special forces commandos, was parachuted into Romania on an extremely dangerous secret mission. In 2011 his grandson Humphrey Ker gives his story hilarious life."
This year’s Panel Prize goes to The Wrestling at Pleasance Courtyard.
The judges said "It was the most outrageous night the Pleasance has ever seen. On August 15th, for one night only 20 of the circuit’s best comedians were united with eight world-class wrestlers in front of an audience of 770 in the ultimate battle of Good vs Evil. This wrestling spectacular was the brainchild of Max Olesker (formerly the youngest pro wrestler in the UK) and Ivan Gonzalez of sketch duo Max and Ivan."
Nica Burns, producer of the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards said, "An extremely strong shortlist and a very hard decision. Congratulations to Adam Riches who is utterly original, extremely funny and a huge talent. He will no doubt be seen on your television screens in the near future! Humphrey Ker’s wowed the judges with a beautifully written, witty show performed with consummate skill. From 505 eligible show to three winners. What a great year for comedy!"
Omid Djalili said, "These awards for comedy at the Edinburgh festival are traditionally so prestigious most acts would be content with just a nomination. Everyone except me. I should have won in 2002. I lost out to a bloke who looked like a sexual deviant. Fortunately Daniel Kitson has long since proved he is not. Then again I haven't seen him in a while."