Winning the acclaim of their peers at the Edinburgh Fringe

Joz Norris and Laura Lexx have won this yea’s Comedians' Choice Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The accolades are voted on by comedians, with every performer at the festival given a vote.

Joz Norris Is Dead. Long Live Mr Fruit Salad was named best show, and Lexx was named best performer.

Norris said: ‘I’m so happy and proud and humbled to have won this award. When I set out to make this show, my hope was that it would express something I'd always struggled to express, something to do with how it feels to make and create and explore what it means to live a life. 

‘Winning the Comedians' Choice Award feels like it succeeded in touching something in the minds of other weirdos and dreamers and makers who create and imagine for a living.

‘The thought that I said something that struck a chord with the people who do this with their lives is beyond humbling. Thank you to all of them."

 Lexx won the performer award for the second year running – and was presented with her award  at the end of her show by Gilded Balloon founder Karen Koren.

She said: ‘I think we're all here craving recognition and validation... to get that from the people who know jokes and structure and presence and comedy more than anyone else is amazing. 

‘I don't think comedy should be competitive, but to get this nod is so soul warming. Thank you, I am extremely grateful.’

The ‘best person’ award went to Brian Dobie, the operations manager of The Pear Tree, The Counting House and 32Below venues on West Nicolson Street, which run shows as part of the Laughing Horse Free Festival. 

Dobie, who is celebrating his 5th year at the Fringe, can often be seen positioned on the pavement outside the venues helping direct audience .

He said: ‘We work all year to prepare for the festival, to spend 25 days of hell… which is really Heaven on Earth. I couldn't think of a more rewarding job. The Free Festival concept works brilliantly with our venue.’

The Comedians' Choice Awards were founded in 2014. Previous winners have included Lolly Adefope, Spencer Jones and Will Franken.

Published: 22 Aug 2019