Enormous trophy for the creator of Basil Crumbwick

Sam Eley has won the 2.04m tall biggest award in comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The comedian, performing under a papier mâché head in character as Basil Crumbwick took the enormous inflatable trophy handed out by streaming service  NextUp.

‘What an honour!’ he said. ‘I brought my weird little show to the Fringe, hoping to find a small collection of nutters who liked it, but I never expected to reach so many people.

‘It means the world that people have been enjoying what I do, and to be recognised by NextUp is the cherry on top of what's been the maddest month of my life. Thank you!’

As well as the trophy, he receives £500 and the option to have  his show, Soul Sewage, recorded and distributed as a NextUp comedy special

Dane Buckley and Scout Boxall were named runners-up

NextUp co-founder Sarah Henley said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted that Sam and the magnificently awful Basil Crumbwick have won this year’s Biggest Award in Comedy.

‘Soul Sewage is gloriously strange, brilliantly performed and properly funny. Basil is the sort of bloke you’d cross the road to avoid in real life but delight in spending an hour with at the Fringe.

‘We’re also thrilled to recognise Dane Buckley and Scout Boxall as runners-up. Darling and God’s Favourite are both exceptional shows, and this was an extremely tight race.’

Eley is also on the shortlist for the ISH Comedy Award.

Published: 27 Aug 2026