Comedy awards

These awards are open to comedy shows - please see the details of each award for entry specifics and sub-genres.

The Amused Moose Comedy Award seeks out breakthrough comedy talent who are yet to become well known (so could be said to be 'almost television ready'), who have their own solo or sketch or multiple comedian/performer show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

2019 winners

Stand Up With Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated) - Soho Theatre (Pleasance Courtyard)
Outstanding Show - Homecoming - Liam Withnail (Monkey Barrel - 2)
People's Champion - Archie Henderson - Jazz Emu - Archie Henderson (Guilded Balloon @ Old Toolbooth Market)

Entry information
Conditions of eligibility
- Shows which are submitted for this award must be listed in the comedy section of edfringe.com as being performed on at least 18 dates (at least 5 dates in each of the three main weeks).
- To enter, entrants have to upload a film of their full show by mid-July ideally (on Sunday 28 July at the latest)
- Film your full show as a preview in June/July, prior to the Edinburgh Fringe (amateur filming is fine, and maybe film more than once, and choose the one you prefer), and upload the film of your full show to YouTube etc.
- Enter your show, including the link to the upload of the preview, at the latest by 23:59 on Sunday 28 July. (This is the Sunday before the Fringe opens)
- The submitted film must be of this year’s Fringe show, and of a similar length to that shown on edfringe.com
- Shows should not be submitted for inclusion IF
  - the performer/performers cannot perform in the final on Wednesday 21 August, from 22.00 (though there may be some flexibility until 23.00), or
  - any of the performers and/or the show has already won or been nominated for any other major comedy award in the UK or anywhere, or
  - any of the performers have previously been in a show which won any category in Amused Moose Comedy Award, or
  - the performer/performers cannot definitely confirm their availability to perform their show or a segment from it, at (tbc) London’s Soho Theatre in October.
Respected comedy industry panellists view all the online submissions, before selecting a large number of shows to be seen live during the Fringe, from which panellists nominate up to ten as the finalists.

Voting at the Final, by Fringe-goers as well as a judging panel of comedy industry professionals, decides the winners (there are usually three awards) which in the past included Tania Edwards, The Kagools, Richard Gadd, Tony Law, Marcel Lucont and Celia Pacquola.

Visit www.amusedmoose.com/awards for full information about entering.

'Best Show', 'Best Performer' and 'Best Person', as determined by those involved in comedy shows.

All comedy shows and performers are automatically eligible for Best Show and Best Performer – no need to do anything to put yourself forward. 'Best Person' tends to be for someone who works behind-the-scenes at the festival, e.g. a venue manager, flyerer or agent. Each comedy show in the brochure is invited to vote once for their favourite show, performer and person. You can't vote for anyone in your own show.

In the second half of the festival, the online nominations/voting form is made available online. When voting closes, the show/person will the most votes at that point is announced as the winner of that category.

Visit www.comedy.co.uk for more information.

2019 winners

Best Show - Joz Norris Is Dead. Long Live Mr Fruit Salad. - Joz Norris (Heroes @ The Hive)
Best Performer - Laura Lexx: Knee Jerk - Andrew Loach Talent (Gilded Balloon Teviot)
Best Person - Brian Dobie (The Pear Tree, The Counting House and 32Below)

Recognising the best artwork related to comedy shows at the festival. Any poster related to a comedy show performing at the 2019 festival can be entered. The winner of the Audience Award is whichever poster gets the most votes on the website. The Panel Award is determined by a jury of industry professionals

Awards ceremony will take place Saturday 17th August at Gilded Balloon on Chambers Street)

Entries open Monday 17th June. Enter your artwork at www.comedyposterawards.co.uk.

2019 winners

Jessica Fostekew: Hench - Jessica Fostekew (Monkey Barrel Comedy - Monkey Barrel 4)
Sofie Hagen: The Bumswing - IAM Presents (Pleasance Dome - QueenDome)

2019 winner

Olaf Falafel – It's One Giant Leek for Mankind - Olaf Falafel (Laughing Horse @ The Pear Tree)

2019 shortlist

Richard Stott: Right Hand Man - Andrew Roach Talent (Guilded Balloon Teviot; Wee Room)
Milton Jones: Milton Impossible - Phil McIntyre Entertainments by arrangement with NRH Management present (Assembly Main Hall)
Jake Lambert: Never Mak the Same Mistak Twice - Off The Kerb Productions (Pleasance Courtyard)
Ross Smith: Crying/Shame - Ross Smith (Just the Tonic at The Tron)
Adele Cliff: Undershare - Adele Cliff (Just the Tonic at The Tron)
Richard Pulsford: Roll Up for the Smirking Break - Mirth of Forth productions (Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn)
Jokes with Mark Simmons Podcast: Live - Mark Simmons / PBH's Free Fringe (PBH's Free Fringe @ Subway)
Ivo Graham: The Game of Life - Off The Kerb Productions (Pleasance Courtyard)

Established in 1981 the UK’s premier Awards are now in their 39th year. There are three awards:

Best Comic / Comedy Show: For the funniest, most outstanding, up-and-coming comic / comedy show / act at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The prize is £10,000.

Best Newcomer: For the performer or act who is performing their first full-length show (50 minutes or more) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The prize is £5,000. Please note that newcomers are eligible for the Best Comedy Show Award, if that is the Panel’s decision, but no act can appear on both shortlists in the same year.

For further information on the awards, please see the website: comedyawards.co.uk

2019 winners

Best Show winner

Jordan Brookes: I've Got Nothing - Fight in the Dog (Pleasance Courtyard - Beneath)

Best Show nominees

Darren Harriott: Good Heart Yute - CKP and InterTalent Group present (Pleasance Courtyard - Beneath)
The Delightful Sausage: Ginster's Paradise - The Delightful Sausage (Monkey Barrel Comedy - Monkey Barrel 1)
Demi Lardner: Ditch Witch 800 - Century (Gilded Balloon Teviot - Sportsmans)
Goodbear: Dougal - DugOut Theatre and Noel Gay Management (Pleasance Dome - Queen Dome)
Ivo Graham: The Game of Life - Off The Kerb Productions (Pleasance Courtyard - Forth)
Jessica Fostekew: Hench - Jessica Fostekew (Monkey Barrel Comedy - Monkey Barrel 3)
London Hughes: To Catch a D*ck - Broken Robot / So Comedy in association with Curtis Brown (Pleasance Courtyard - The Attic)
Spencer Jones: The Things We Leave Behind - Soho Theatre and United Agents (Pleasance Courtyard - Beneath)

Best Newcomer winner

Catherine Cohen: The Twist...? She's Gorgeous - Berk's Nest (Pleasance Courtyard - Beneath)

Best Newcomer nominees

Crybabies: Danger Brigade - Crybabies in association with PBJ Management (Heroes @ Boteco - Basement)
Helen Bauer: Little Miss Baby Angel Face - CKP and InterTalent Group present (Pleasance Courtyard - Bunker One)
Huge Davies: The Carpark - CKP and InterTalent Group present (Pleasance Courtyard - Bunker Three)
Stand Up with Janine Harouni (Please Remain Seated) - Soho Theatre (Pleasance Courtyard - Beneath )
Michael Odewale: #BLACKBEARSMATTER - Live Nation in association with UTC Artist Management (Pleasance Courtyard - Bunker Two)
Nigel Ng: Culture Shocked - Off The Kerb Productions (Pleasance Courtyard - Bunker Two)
Sophie Duker: Venus - Berk's Nest in association with Avalon present (Pleasance Courtyard - Pleasance Below)

Panel prize winner

Jess Brough and Fringe of Colour

How to enter

The shortlists will be announced on Wednesday 21st August 2019

Panel Prize: Like the Fringe itself, there are no rules. Everyone is eligible. It is entirely in the gift of the Panel and Award Director and may not be awarded at all. The prize is £5,000.

The winners of all three Awards will be announced on Saturday 24th August 2019.

For further information on the awards, please see the website: comedyawards.co.uk

All shows listed in the comedy and cabaret section of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe brochure are automatically checked for eligibility. Shows need to be playing the dates as outlined in the eligibility rules in order for the shows to be judged. If you think you are eligible, but are not in this category, please email [email protected]

For further information on eligibility, please visit:comedyawards.co.uk

All eligible shows are seen by the judging panel, awards administration team and scouts, who start covering shows from the first day of the festival. The judging panel consists of comedy critics, industry professionals (TV and Live) and punter judges. The scouts are previous members of the panel.
The Shortlist is announced on Wednesday 21st August 2019. All members of the panel then see all the shows again and the winner is selected and announced on Saturday 24th August 2019.

For further information on the judging process, please visit: comedyawards.co.uk/how-the-awards-are-judged

2019 winners

Award for Comic Originality (Shortlisted)

Charles Quarterman: An Afternoon with Charles Quarterman for One Hour - Charles Quarterman (Heroes @ The SpiegelYurt)
Jimmy Slim and Lewis Blomfield: Scratch and Sniff - Jimmy Slim and Lewis Blomfield / Heroes / PWYW (Heroes & Bob's BlundaBus)
Joz Norris Is Dead. Long Live Mr Fruit Salad. - Joz Norris (Heroes @ The Hive)
Legs - Julia Masli and The Duncan Brothers (Just The Tonic at The Caves)
Goodbye Mr President - President Obonjo / PBH's Free Fringe (The Voodoo Rooms)
Sean Morley: Soon I Will Be Dead and My Bones Will Be Free to Wreak Havoc Upon the Earth Once More - Heroes / PWYW (Heroes @ The Hive)

Award for Cunning Stunt (Shortlisted)

Jimmy Slim and Lewis Blomfield: Scratch and Sniff - Jimmy Slim and Lewis Blomfield / Heroes / PWYW (Heroes & Bob's BlundaBus)

Act Most Likely to Make a Million Quid (Shortlisted)

Candy Gigi Presents – Friday Night Sinner! - Candy Gigi (Monkey Barrell Comedy)
Catherine Cohen: The Twist...? She's Gorgeous - Berk's Nest (Pleasance Courtyard; Beneath)
Goodbye Mr President - President Obonjo / PBH's Free Fringe (The Voodoo Rooms)
Sophie Duker: Venus - Berk's Nest in association with Avalon present (Pleasance Courtyard; Below)
Tom Crosbie: Nerd World Problems - Lee Martin for Gag Reflex (Guilded Balloon Teviot; Night Club)

The So You Think You’re Funny? competition was created by the Gilded Balloon and Karen Koren in 1988 and this Fringe the competition moves into its 31st year of discovering, supporting and nurturing new comic talent.

How to enter

The comedians who apply must only have been performing stand up for less than a year. Applicants are invited to perform in showcases across the UK throughout May, June and July, including London, Leicester, Glasgow, and Brighton. The competition is the most successful of its kind in the UK and attracts over 600 applicants each year.

So You Think You’re Funny? is very competitive and there are only 45 places at the semi-finals in Edinburgh, which are judged by an industry panel including Karen and Katy Koren of Gilded Balloon, comedy editor of the Evening Standard and Beyond the Joke Bruce Dessau, and a celebrity guest judge.

Each competitor is given seven minutes to win over the judges, at the end of each semi-final a winner is announced and given a place in the Grand Final: a two-and-a-half hours’ top bill of new comic talent. The winner will receive a cash prize of up to £2500, a trip to perform at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival 2020, a run as part of Gilded Balloon’s Fringe programme in 2020, a complimentary head shot shoot by professional photographer to the stars Steve Ullathorne, and complimentary filmed copy and professional photographs of their spot from the Final to use in their show-reel. As well as this, they will also win mentorship from Karen Koren and the So You Think You’re Funny team, who are all committed to nurturing young comic talent with personal support and touring opportunities in the year following the Grand Final.

Previous So You Think You’re Funny award-winners include Dylan Moran, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, and Tommy Tiernan. Finalists include Johnny Vegas, Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges, Rhod Gilbert, Rob Beckett, Russell Howard, Romesh Ranganathan, Jason Byrne, Lucy Porter, Mark Watson, Maisie Adam and Russell Kane.

For more info, visit www.soyouthinkyourefunny.co.uk

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Amused Moose Comedy Award

2019 winners

The Comedian's Choice Awards, presented by British Comedy Guide

2019 winners

The Comedy Poster Awards, presented by British Comedy Guide

2019 winners

Dave's Joke of the Fringe

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Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards

2019 winners

Malcolm Hardee Awards

2019 winners

So You Think You’re Funny?

Thank you!

Menu

Amused Moose Comedy Award

2019 winners

The Comedian's Choice Awards, presented by British Comedy Guide

2019 winners

The Comedy Poster Awards, presented by British Comedy Guide

2019 winners

Dave's Joke of the Fringe

2019 winner

Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards

2019 winners

Malcolm Hardee Awards

2019 winners

So You Think You’re Funny?

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