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| Edinburgh comedy awards book lastminute.com as sponsor | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| They were controversially sponsored by Perrier, then a finance company, and a lager. This year the Edinburgh comedy awards will be backed by lastminute.com. | They were controversially sponsored by Perrier, then a finance company, and a lager. This year the Edinburgh comedy awards will be backed by lastminute.com. |
| The awards’ producer, Nica Burns, has announced that the travel and lifestyle website will this year replace Foster’s as the principal sponsor. | The awards’ producer, Nica Burns, has announced that the travel and lifestyle website will this year replace Foster’s as the principal sponsor. |
| “It is a great fit for both parties,” she said. “Our job at the comedy awards is to spotlight emerging talent at Edinburgh, to publicise it and help it. Lastminute.com will be able to do that with us. | “It is a great fit for both parties,” she said. “Our job at the comedy awards is to spotlight emerging talent at Edinburgh, to publicise it and help it. Lastminute.com will be able to do that with us. |
| “We will gain coverage online, this has lots of potential for comedy.” | “We will gain coverage online, this has lots of potential for comedy.” |
| Burns said British comedy had suffered two big setbacks in the last year. BBC3’s move to digital-only – “[it] pioneered so much comedy and gave young comedians their first chance” – and the decision by Time Out to drop its comedy listings. | Burns said British comedy had suffered two big setbacks in the last year. BBC3’s move to digital-only – “[it] pioneered so much comedy and gave young comedians their first chance” – and the decision by Time Out to drop its comedy listings. |
| Thankfully, she said, the specialist websites Chortle and the British Comedy Guide are still around. | Thankfully, she said, the specialist websites Chortle and the British Comedy Guide are still around. |
| Having lastminute.com as a partner would help to reach the occasional comedy booker, said Burns. | Having lastminute.com as a partner would help to reach the occasional comedy booker, said Burns. |
| The comedy awards were known as the Perriers between 1981-2005 but the relationship ended after protests and boycott threats because it was owned by Nestlé. | The comedy awards were known as the Perriers between 1981-2005 but the relationship ended after protests and boycott threats because it was owned by Nestlé. |
| Nestlé has been one of the most boycotted companies in the world with protests at its perceived aggressive marketing of powdered baby milk to the developing world. | Nestlé has been one of the most boycotted companies in the world with protests at its perceived aggressive marketing of powdered baby milk to the developing world. |
| After Perrier came Intelligent Finance as a sponsor and in 2009 Burns stumped up the money herself before Foster’s came on board in 2010. | After Perrier came Intelligent Finance as a sponsor and in 2009 Burns stumped up the money herself before Foster’s came on board in 2010. |
| Fabio Cannavale, lastminute.com’s CEO, said it was proud to be the new sponsor: “We feel very privileged to be able to support, promote and discover the best of British comedy. | Fabio Cannavale, lastminute.com’s CEO, said it was proud to be the new sponsor: “We feel very privileged to be able to support, promote and discover the best of British comedy. |
| “Lastminute.com is all about celebrating life and we want to inspire people to make the most of it – that’s one reason why we are so serious about comedy. Another reason being that our customers are increasingly interested in experiencing live comedy – by extending our offering we are providing access to the finest comedy talent at the greatest venues all over the UK.” | “Lastminute.com is all about celebrating life and we want to inspire people to make the most of it – that’s one reason why we are so serious about comedy. Another reason being that our customers are increasingly interested in experiencing live comedy – by extending our offering we are providing access to the finest comedy talent at the greatest venues all over the UK.” |
| The comedy awards are an important part of the Edinburgh fringe, with previous winners going on to successful careers in film and TV. | The comedy awards are an important part of the Edinburgh fringe, with previous winners going on to successful careers in film and TV. |
| The very first winners were the Cambridge Footlights, featuring Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Penny Dwyer and Paul Shearer. Others include Frank Skinner, Lee Evans, Al Murray, Laura Solon, Bridget Christie and last year Sam Simmons. | The very first winners were the Cambridge Footlights, featuring Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Penny Dwyer and Paul Shearer. Others include Frank Skinner, Lee Evans, Al Murray, Laura Solon, Bridget Christie and last year Sam Simmons. |
| This year’s winners are due to be announced on 27 August with the main winner picking up a prize of £10,000. | This year’s winners are due to be announced on 27 August with the main winner picking up a prize of £10,000. |