(Mostly...)

Winners and finalists of the Chortle Student Comedy Award so often go on to great things. Here are eight previous title-holders (plus one finalists up and a show we can guarantee will include a future champion) making their returns to Edinburgh this year…

2004: Lloyd Langford

Our very first winner is now based down under, where he has a successful career on the festival and panel-show circuit. Not that he necessarily planned things quite that way, as he arrived in Australia in February 2020 just before Covid struck, so was there without seeing his family for more than two years. Chortle caught his new show DILF at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year , and our review is here.  PBH's Free Fringe @ Legends, 6.05pm, August 6 to 18 only.

2010: Phil Wang

How far Phil Wang has come since his cutting his teeth at Cambridge University’s Footlights club – and taking our crown. He’s starred in Taskmasker, recorded a Netflix special and written his memoirs. Now he unveils his new tour show, The Real Hero In All This. Assembly George Square 9pm,. August 15 to 21 only

2012: Kwame Asante

After his Chortle success, Kwame Asante went on to be nominated for best newcomer at the 2017 Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He may have a lower profile than some of his contemporaries, but that’s because he balances his career in comedy with the slightly more important job of being an A&E doctor in Birmingham… so  he’s had quite a busy couple of years. His Edinburgh show offers something different, too, in a circuit full of atheist comedians: an introspective on the place of religion in life, love and medicine.  Pleasance Courtyard 4.45pm

2014: Jamali Maddix

With a heightened profile thanks to Taskmaster, Gogglebox and Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Maddix needs only pay a flying visit to the Fringe, with three nights of his latest tour King Crud, offering his take on issues of morality and justice and more. Pleasance Courtyard 11.20pm, August 25 to 27 only

2015: Andy Field

After winning our title, Field went on to  make his own Radio 1 series The Andy Field Experience, as well as racking up several TV stand-up appearances. His 2022 show, Ideas(,) Man is all about his ideas… although isn’t everyone’s? Assembly George Square 8.55pm

2016: Morgan Rees

A Chortle finalist, rather than a winner, Rees this year makes his Edinburgh Fringe debut with a s how about coming out as bisexual to his eccentric during lockdown. His is also One of Two shows this year to have gone for the punny title Bi And Large. Pleasance Courtyard, 6.10pm.

2018: Bexie Archer

Bexie Archer and partner Kevin Dewsbury debuted their double act Your Dad’s Mum at last year’s depleted Fringe, and now return for a run at the fully restored festival. Dewsbury plays jaded unreconstructed working men’s club Pat Bashford while  Archer is his over-woke and giddily niave niece Cheri-Anne working behind the bar. Underbelly Bristo Square 9.45pm

2019: Erika Ehler

The British-based Canadian, as seen on Frankie Boyle's New World Order and Comedians Giving Lectures, makes her Fringe debut with a show called Femcel.  The word is a female incel – someone who can’t get a relationship – or as Urban Dictionary puts it ‘a woman who hates both men and women, while complaining about dumb shit.’ The blurb promises some ‘boldly offensive’ jokes. Monkey Barrel Comedy Carnivore at 9.40pm

2021: Joe Kent-Walters and Sam Williams

Last year’s (Covid-delayed) winner and runner-up share a bill, mixing Kent-Walters’ high-energy character comedy and the assured stand-up of Williams. Given the list of past winners and finalists, this pair could be ones to watch for the future. PBH's Free Fringe @ Revolution Bar 2.40pm.

2022: Who knows?

This year’s finalist will be crowned at the Fringe this year, following in those illustrious footsteps,. Vying to take the crown are Sascha LO, Hasan Al-Habib, Ethan Willmer-Anderson, Henry Shannon, Alex Mason,  Jin Hao Li, Jack Dearnley,  Charlie Humphrey, also 21, studying for a masters in Biomedical Sciences at Warwick Universit Stepan Mysko von Schultze, Caitriona Dowden and Henry Whaley. Pleasance Courytard, 10pm, August 15. Tickets

Published: 25 Jul 2022