So You Think You’re Funny? final WILL take place live

A rare Edinburgh Fringe gig... as semis go virtual

The final of year’s So You Think You’re Funny? talent hunt WILL take place live, during what remains of the Edinburgh Fringe.

Mark Watson will host the event at the competition’s usual home in The Debating Hall at the Gilded Balloon., it has been confirmed today.

However the semi-finals will take place online, streamed via NextUp Comedy.

Each of the six semis will be hosted by one of the competition’s alumni and judged by a panel of industry experts.

The heats of the UK’s longest running comedy newcomer competition, now in its 33rd year, also took place virtually.

In a statement, Gilded Balloon’s artistic directors Karen and Katy Koren said: ‘We’ve been blown away by the standard of performers that have taken part in this year’s online heats. It’s the most exciting part of our job to see new comedy talent coming through the competition, despite the challenges faced by the industry.

‘We are thrilled to have the next round of the competition streamed in partnership with NextUp Comedy and we look forward to presenting the semi-finals of the competition online and the grand final live in Edinburgh.’

The semi-finals will be held from August 9 to 14 at 7.30pm, with tickets priced £5, with the final on August 26 at the same time, with tickets £15 in person and £12 streaming.

Previous finalists have included Peter Kay, Dylan Moran, Lee Mack, Tommy Tiernan, Jason Manford, Lucy Porter, Reginald D Hunter, Josie Long, Russell Howard, Francesca Martinez, John Bishop, Alan Carr, Nina Conti, Rhod Gilbert, Sarah Millican, Kevin Bridges, Romesh Ranganathan, Hannah Gadsby, Jack Whitehall, Rob Beckett and Aisling Bea.