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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Poet named Edinburgh comedy king | Poet named Edinburgh comedy king |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| This year's Edinburgh Fringe comedy award has been won by Tim Key for his show The Slutcracker. | This year's Edinburgh Fringe comedy award has been won by Tim Key for his show The Slutcracker. |
| The 32-year-old, from Cambridge, performs a "confused procession of idiosyncratic poetry and prose". | The 32-year-old, from Cambridge, performs a "confused procession of idiosyncratic poetry and prose". |
| The awards, formerly known as the Perriers and the If.comedies, have been the launch pad for a string of new comedy stars since 1981. | The awards, formerly known as the Perriers and the If.comedies, have been the launch pad for a string of new comedy stars since 1981. |
| The best newcomer award was won by Jonny Sweet. The panel prize went to Peter Buckley Hill's Free Fringe. | The best newcomer award was won by Jonny Sweet. The panel prize went to Peter Buckley Hill's Free Fringe. |
| It was judged to have embodied the spirit of the Fringe. | It was judged to have embodied the spirit of the Fringe. |
| About 400 shows were eligible for the main award, with the shortlist including Tom Wrigglesworth, Russell Kane and Idiots of Ants. | About 400 shows were eligible for the main award, with the shortlist including Tom Wrigglesworth, Russell Kane and Idiots of Ants. |
| There is a lot of sex. I would not say I distance myself completely from the slut tag Tim Key | There is a lot of sex. I would not say I distance myself completely from the slut tag Tim Key |
| The other nominees for the award - this year called The Eddies - were John Bishop and Jon Richardson. | The other nominees for the award - this year called The Eddies - were John Bishop and Jon Richardson. |
| "Star" names, who have already had TV series or can perform in a 500-seat venue under their own name, were not eligible. | "Star" names, who have already had TV series or can perform in a 500-seat venue under their own name, were not eligible. |
| Key told BBC Scotland he was "stunned, overwhelmed and bewildered". | Key told BBC Scotland he was "stunned, overwhelmed and bewildered". |
| He said his poems were about "death, sex and dew", and were not from personal experience. | He said his poems were about "death, sex and dew", and were not from personal experience. |
| The 32-year-old comic added: "They are frivolous, stupid poems mainly. | The 32-year-old comic added: "They are frivolous, stupid poems mainly. |
| "There is a lot of sex. I would not say I distance myself completely from the slut tag." | "There is a lot of sex. I would not say I distance myself completely from the slut tag." |
| Key received an £8,000 prize, as well as invitations to appear at international comedy festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. | Key received an £8,000 prize, as well as invitations to appear at international comedy festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. |
| Nica Burns, the producer of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards said: "Tim Key is a one-off, an adorably diffident performance poet and stand-up. His charming show is full of surprises. | |
| "Tim has funny bones and is a star in the making." | |
| Golden age | |
| Sweet's show Mostly about Arthur, was described by award producer Nica Burns as a "delicious hour of character comedy". | Sweet's show Mostly about Arthur, was described by award producer Nica Burns as a "delicious hour of character comedy". |
| The 24-year-old Londoner, who will soon play the young David Cameron in a More 4 docudrama, won £4,000 for being best newcomer. | The 24-year-old Londoner, who will soon play the young David Cameron in a More 4 docudrama, won £4,000 for being best newcomer. |
| The comedy 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 comedy 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. |
| Skinner returned to present the awards at the ceremony in Edinburgh. | |
| He said: "The standard is high every year. I don't subscribe to the idea that this award isn't as good as it used to be and all that. | |
| "I think anyone who wins this is top-notch comic. You've got to be brilliant to win it, and to be nominated I think." | |
| Awards producer Nica Burns has spent about £150,000 of her own money this year to keep the prize going without a sponsor. | Awards producer Nica Burns has spent about £150,000 of her own money this year to keep the prize going without a sponsor. |