Edinburgh Comedy Awards
Formerly the Perrier award, now sponsored by Foster's

Created for original sponsors Perrier in 1981, this has become the most coveted of all comedy prizes. Awarded to the best comedy show on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it has, for better or for worse, created a competitive edge to the event. Perrier added a best newcomer category in 1992.

The award is open to any 'original cabaret, comedy, revue in sketch form or stand-up' 50 minutes or longer and cannot be performed by someone judged to already have star status, defined as someone able to fill a theatre on their own, or have had their own TV show. Previous winners are also ineligible.

In 2006, Perrier ended their association with the awards and internet bank if.com took over sponsorship for three years. In 2009, no sponsor could be found, so producer Nica Burns invested her own money into the awards, newly renamed the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

In 2010, Foster's took over the sponsorship.

Previous winners and nominees

1981

Cambridge Footlights including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson

1982

Writers Inc.

1983

Los Trios Ringbarkus

1984

The Brass Band
Nominees: Fascinating Aida, Hank Wangford Band, Frank Chickens, The Bodgers, The Brass Band

1985

Theatre De Complicité
Nominees: The Bodgers, Merry Mac Fun Show, Paul B Davies, Sue Ingleton

1986

Ben Keaton
Nominees: Paul B Davies, Roy Hutchins, Jenny Lecoat, Merry Mac Fun Show

1987

Brown Blues (Arnold Brown and Jungr & Parker)
Nominees: Nick Revell, Jeremy Hardy, Simon Fanshawe, John Sparkes

1988

Jeremy Hardy
Nominees: Doug Anthony Allstars, Roy Hutchins, Robert Lewellyn's Mammon, The Wow Show

1989

Simon Fanshawe
Nominees: John Hegley, Al and George, Will Durst, Live Bed Show, The World Of Les and Robert

1990

Sean Hughes
Nominees: Dillie Keane - Single Again, Pete McCarthy - The Hangover Show, Jimmy Tingle

1991

Frank Skinner
Nominees: Avner The Eccentric, Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, Lily Savage

1992 

Steve Coogan In Character With John Thomson
Nominees: Jo Brand, Bruce Morton, John Shuttleworth's Guide To Stardom, Mark Thomas
Best Newcomer: Harry Hill

1993

Lee Evans
Nominees: Corky and The Juice Pigs, Phil Kay, Johnny Meres, Donna McPhail, Parrot, Greg Proops
Best Newcomer: Dominic Holland

1994

Lano & Woodley
Nominees: Alan Davies, Jeff Green, Harry Hill's Pub lnternationale, Owen O'Neill, Robert Schimel
Best Newcomer: Scott Capurro

1995

Jenny Eclair
Nominees: Simon Bligh, Scott Capurro, Boothby Graffoe, The Umbilical Brothers
Best Newcomer: Tim Vine

1996: Dylan Moran
Nominees: Armstrong and Miller, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Dominic Holland, Al Murray
Best Newcomer Award: Milton Jones

1997

The League of Gentlemen
Nominees: Milton Jones, Al Murray, Graham Norton, Johnny Vegas
Best Newcomer: Arj Barker

1998: Tommy Tiernan
Nominees: Ed Byrne, Sean Cullen, Peter Kay, Al Murray,
Best Newcomer: The Mighty Boosh

1999: Al Murray
Nominees: Terry Alderton, Arctic Boosh, The League Against Tedium, Ross Noble
Best Newcomer: Ben 'n' Arn

2000: Rich Hall as Otis Lee Crenshaw
Nominees: Are You Dave Gorman?, Lee Mack, Garth Marenghi, Sean Lock
Best Newcomer: Noble & Silver. Nominated: Andrew Clover: A Man Of Substance In A World Of Filth, Dan Antopolski

2001

Garth Marenghi's Netherhead
Nominees: Dan Antopolski, Jason Byrne, Adam Hills, Daniel Kitson
Best Newcomer: Let's Have A Shambles
. Nominated: Andy Zaltzman, Cambridge Footlights

2002

Daniel Kitson
Nominees: Jimmy Carr, Omid Djalili, Noel Fielding, Adam Hills, Phil Nichol
Best Newcomer: The Consultants
Nominated: Natalie Haynes, Reginald D Hunter, Hal Cruttenden

2003

Demetri Martin
Nominees: Adam Hills, Howard Read, Flight Of The Conchords, Reginald D Hunter
Best Newcomer: Gary Le Strange
Nominated: Alex Horne, Michael McIntrye, Miles Jupp

2004

Jackson's Way
Nominees: Chris Addison, Reginald D Hunter, Epitaph, Sarah Kendall
Best Newcomer: Wil Hodgson.
Nominated: Alun Cochrane, Joanna Neary, Sabotage

2005:

Laura Solon: Kopfrapers Syndrome:
Nominees :Chris Addison: Atomicity, Dutch Elm Conservatoire: Conspiracy, Jason Manford: Urban Legend, Jeremy Lion: What's The Time, Mr Lion
Best Newcomer: Tim Minchin: Darkside. Nominees: Charlie Pickering- Betterman, Mark Watson:50 Years Before Death, Rhod Gilbert's 1984,,Toulson and Harvey

2006:

Phil Nichol: The Naked Racist
Nominees: David O'Doherty Is My Name, Paul Sinha: Saint Or Sinha, Russell Howard, We Are Klang: KlangBang
Best Newcomer: Josie Long: Kindness And Exuberance
Nominees: Andrew Lawrence: How To Butcher Your Loved Ones, Fat Tongue, God's Pottery, Russell Kane's Theory of Pretension
Panel Prize: Mark Watson

2007

Brendon Burns: So I Suppose THIS Is Offensive Now
Nominees: Andrew Lawrence: Social Leprosy For Beginners, Andrew Maxwell: Waxin', Ivan Brackenbury's Hospital Radio Roadshow and Pappy's Fun Club
Best Newcomer: Tom Basden: Won't Say Anything.
Nominees: Jon Richardson: Spatula Pad, Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change and Zoe Lyons: Fight or Flight?
Panel Prize: Arthur Smith’s Arturart exhibition

2008

David O’Doherty: Let’s Comedy
Nominees: Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler: Double Down Hearts, Rhod Gilbert and The Award-Winning Mince Pie, Russell Kane: Gaping Flaws
Best Newcomer: Sarah Millican’s Not Nice.
Nominees: Mike Wozniak, Pippa Evans and Other Lonely People
Panel Prize: 'All the comedians'. A party was thrown on the last night of the festival, with the prize money behind the bar.

2009

Tim Key: The Slutcracker
Nominees: Idiots of Ants:This Is War, John Bishop: Elvis Has Left the Building; Jon Richardson: This Guy at Night; Russell Kane: Human Dressage;  Tom Wrigglesworth's Open Return Letter to Richard Branson
Best newcomer:  Jonny Sweet: Mostly About Arthur
Nominees: Carl Donnelly: Relax Everyone, It's Carl Donnelly!; Jack Whitehall: Nearly Rebellious, Kevin Bridges: An Hour to Sing for Your Soul; Pete Johansson: Naked Pictures of My Life
Panel Prize: Peter Buckley-Hill for the Free Fringe

2010

Russell Kane: Smokescreens and Castles
Nominees: Bo Burnham: Words, Words Words; Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog; Josie Long: Be Honourable!; Sarah Millican Chatterbox
Best newcomer:  Roisin Conaty: Hero, Warrior, Fireman, Liar
Nominees: Asher Treleaven: Secret Door; An Audience with Imran Yusuf; The Boy with Tape on His Face; Gareth Richards: Stand Up Between Songs Late Night Gimp Fight!
Panel Prize: Bo Burnham

2011

Bring Me The Head Of Adam Riches
Nominees:      Andrew Maxwell: The Lights Are On, Chris Ramsey: Offermation, Josie Long: The Future Is Another Place, Nick Helm: Dare to Dream, Sam Simmons: Meanwhile
Best newcomer:  Humphrey Ker: Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher.
Nominees:     Cariad Lloyd: Lady Cariad’s Characters, The Chris and Paul Show (Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti), Hannibal Buress - My Name is Hannibal: The Hannibal Montanabal Experience, Holly Walsh: The Hollycopter, Josh Widdicombe: If This Show Saves One Life, Thom Tuck Goes Straight to DVD, Totally Tom
Panel Prize: The Wrestling

2012

Dr Brown: Befrdfgth
Nominees: Claudia O'Doherty: The Telescope,  James Acaster: Prompt, Josie Long: Romance and Adventure, Pappy's: Last Show Ever!, Tony Law: Maximum Nonsense
Best newcomer:  Daniel Simonsen: Champions.
Nominees: David Trent: Spontaneous Comedian, Discover Ben Target, Joe Lycett: Some Lycett Hot, Sam Fletcher: Good on Paper.
Panel Prize: The Boy With Tape On His Face