James Corden will again be sponsoring the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards this year, alongside fellow comics Rhod Gilbert and Elf Lyons.

Organisers say this year’s prize fund will be bigger than the £12,500.01 handed out last year – but declined to put a figure on it.

Last year the best show and best newcomer award were each worth £4,000 with a £3,000 panel prize shared between five winners. Best tech won £1,000 and best joke £500.01.

Corden said he was ‘honoured’ to support the accolades again, with the best show award named in his honour. Last year it was shared between Mark Forward and Phil Ellis.

Awards founder Nathan Cassidy said: 'The fact that James has come in again with support blows me away – and as usual, I'll be sticking my hand in my pocket too.  

‘I am very proud of these awards, that this has now become artists supporting artists, and also their ethos - every eligible show is seen and it doesn't matter what venue you are in, your background, your industry backing, your audience numbers, everyone is in with a chance.

‘We can't save the world as artists, but we can become better inside it and inspire, and I'm very proud of the way that the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards has brought people together and done so much good to support the artistic community.’

Awards producer Sarah Bowles added: 'I know not everyone likes comedy awards, but as we have said from the start, winning or being nominated for our awards doesn't mean it's absolutely the best show or whatever, that's unquantifiable... but, you just need to look at our track record of winners and nominees to see that, I believe, these awards are the most inclusive of everyone.

‘Nominees have been from all venues and all backgrounds - nothing is favoured on our lists we just look out for the shows that make us or the audience laugh the most.’

This will be the fourth year of the awards. Paul Foot and Julia Masli shared the honour in 2023 and Elf Lyons took it in 2024.

Lyons is backing the tech award, which will now be named the  Charlie ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award for Tech

The comic said:  ‘I am thrilled that the Awards are back - and this one with a new name - it seems right that the tech award is named after a technician rather than myself. Thus it feels appropriate to name it after a technician who for me is a fantastic example of the multifaceted role technicians play in performers' lives and the comedy industry - from designing lighting and sound cues, fixing mics, reformatting Qlabs and much much more.' 

Rhod Gilbert is again backing the Panel Prize, which rewards anything other than the shows themselves. He said: ‘Over the years I’ve seen how much of the Fringe depends on people you never see on stage. Last year’s winners - including five flyerers - said it all. These are the people out there grafting to keep the whole thing going. The ISH Panel Prize is about recognising those unsung heroes, and I’m delighted to support it again.'

Youth community radio station Takeover Radio 106.9FM, based in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire is backing the Joke of the Fringe award, last year won by Jo Caulfield for her line: ‘Last time I got really drunk I woke up in this filthy bedroom, vomit all down me, some fat, naked bloke snoring next to me. I was like - oh right, at least I got home OK.’

No sponsor has yet been named for the newcomer award, which was last year shared between  Amelia Hamilton and Ayo Adenekan.

All money donated by sponsors goes into the prize fund.

Eligible shows for the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards must be under the primary category of comedy, be 45 mins or more and not be compilation shows. Certain short-runs aren't eligible as judges longlist shows after two weeks of the Fringe.

Last year’s tech prize was shared between Jake Wood, Eddie Fenton-Jones, Alice Greening and Josie Shipp; with the panel prize split between Benny Shakes of Disabled Cants, Che Burnley of the Alternative Black Comedy Showcase, Lula.xyz of Edinburgh Fringe With Spice, the One4Review team and five flyerers.