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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Comedy awards line-up announced | Comedy awards line-up announced |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The nominees for this year's Edinburgh Fringe comedy award have been unveiled. | The nominees for this year's Edinburgh Fringe comedy award have been unveiled. |
| The prize, formerly known as the Perriers and the If.comedies, is without a sponsor for the first time in its 29-year history. | The prize, formerly known as the Perriers and the If.comedies, is without a sponsor for the first time in its 29-year history. |
| About 400 shows were eligible for the award, with the shortlist including Tom Wrigglesworth, Tim Key, Russell Kane and Idiots of Ants. | About 400 shows were eligible for the award, with the shortlist including Tom Wrigglesworth, Tim Key, Russell Kane and Idiots of Ants. |
| The other nominees for the awards - this year called The Eddies - are John Bishop and Jon Richardson. | The other nominees for the awards - this year called The Eddies - are John Bishop and Jon Richardson. |
| The comedy awards also gives a prize to the best newcomer. | The comedy awards also gives a prize to the best newcomer. |
| This year's nominees for that prize are Carl Donnelly, Jack Whitehall, Jonny Sweet, Kevin Bridges and Pete Johansson. | This year's nominees for that prize are Carl Donnelly, Jack Whitehall, Jonny Sweet, Kevin Bridges and Pete Johansson. |
| The winner of the main prize, which will be announced on Saturday, is awarded to the best performer doing a run at the Edinburgh Fringe. | The winner of the main prize, which will be announced on Saturday, is awarded to the best performer doing a run at the Edinburgh Fringe. |
| Comedy festivals | Comedy festivals |
| "Star" names, who have already had TV series or can perform in a 500-seat venue under their own name, are not eligible. | "Star" names, who have already had TV series or can perform in a 500-seat venue under their own name, are not eligible. |
| The winner receives £8,000 and an invite to appear at international comedy festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. | The winner receives £8,000 and an invite to appear at international comedy festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. |
| The award was first made in 1981 to a Cambridge Footlights cast which included Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson - all future comedy stars. | The award was first made in 1981 to a Cambridge Footlights cast which included Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson - all future comedy stars. |
| Its golden age came in the early 90s when it was won by Frank Skinner, Steve Coogan and Lee Evans. | Its golden age came in the early 90s when it was won by Frank Skinner, Steve Coogan and Lee Evans. |
| Awards producer Nica Burns has spent about £120,000 of her own money to keep the prize going without a sponsor. | Awards producer Nica Burns has spent about £120,000 of her own money to keep the prize going without a sponsor. |
| She said she had offers of sponsorship but one was a conflict of interest which could have compromised the independence of the awards and a second was "not the right brand". | She said she had offers of sponsorship but one was a conflict of interest which could have compromised the independence of the awards and a second was "not the right brand". |
| The producer said she was confident a sponsor could be found for next year, as she could not afford to pay for it herself a second time. | The producer said she was confident a sponsor could be found for next year, as she could not afford to pay for it herself a second time. |
| She said the shortlist was "very strong" but it was "disappointing" that there were no female performers named. | She said the shortlist was "very strong" but it was "disappointing" that there were no female performers named. |
| Only two females - Jenny Eclair and Laura Solon - have ever won the prize outright. | Only two females - Jenny Eclair and Laura Solon - have ever won the prize outright. |
| Ms Burns said she hoped that performers such as Sarah Millican - last year's best newcomer - were having a "development year" and they would come back even stronger over the next few years. | Ms Burns said she hoped that performers such as Sarah Millican - last year's best newcomer - were having a "development year" and they would come back even stronger over the next few years. |
| She said: "It is disappointing but I am hoping senior female performers will keep encouraging women and they will come through and reach the top." | She said: "It is disappointing but I am hoping senior female performers will keep encouraging women and they will come through and reach the top." |
| The nominees are: | The nominees are: |
| • Idiots of Ants: This Is War | |
| • John Bishop: Elvis Has Left The Building | |
| • Jon Richardson: This Guy At Night | |
| • Russell Kane: Human Dressage | |
| • Tim Key-The Slutcracker | |
| • Tom Wrigglesworth's Open Return Letter to Richard Branson |