Barry loves Danny

Kitson scoops Melbourne gold

Daniel Kitson has scooped the most prestigious prize at the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

He was awarded the Barry - named in honour of Barry Humphries - for his new show, It's The Fireworks Talking - a show Chortle described as 'faultless'.

It is the third time he had been nominated for the award.

Fellow Brit Andy Zaltzman was given The Piece Of Wood award, an actual chunk of wood handed down from comic to comic each year. Last year's winners Damian Callinan and Fiona O’Loughlin passed it on.

Lawrence Leung won The Age Critic's Award for his upbeat show Lawrence Leung Learns To Breakdance, Justin Hamilton won the Directors' Award, and Josh Thomas was named best newcomer

The Glass Boat, a narrative sketch comedy, won the Golden Gibbo, awarded in memory of the late Lynda Gibson for the festival show which put artistic aims above commercial success.

British and Irish acts had led the Barry nominations with We Are Klang, Russell Howard, David O'Doherty and and theatre duo Will Adamsdale and Chris Branch all shortlisted for the main prize, alongside Australians Fiona O'Loughlin and Kate McLennan completed the list.

Published: 28 Apr 2007

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