The Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme hasn’t even been officially launched yet, but almost 3,500 shows have already been announced.
It can be a tricky proposition negotiating the sheer quantity of what’s on offer but there’s something to be said for opting for performers who have a winning record – and there’s no bigger prize in British comedy than the Edinburgh Comedy Award.
Launched in 1981, the award is presented to the comedy show judged to have been the best at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and is recognised as the most prestigious comedy prize in the UK.
Formerly known as the Perrier Award, it is designed to promote acts that have yet to become household names, so comedians judged to have ‘star status’ are not eligible - for instance if they have a show on a major television channel or can regularly fill a 500-set venue.
The first winners were a talent-packed Cambridge Footlights featuring Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson, while other names catapulted to fame by the award over the years include Steve Coogan, Jenny Eclair, The League of Gentlemen, Dylan Moran, Al Murray, Tim Key, and Emmy-winning Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd.
A Best Newcomer Award was added in 1992, followed by a Panel Prize in 2006 - for those who have made a particularly special contribution to the Fringe Festival.
Here are all 18 previous winners you can see in Edinburgh this year so far.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
9. Ayoade Bamgboye
Saturday Night Live UK star Ayoade Bamgboye won the Best Newcomer Award last year for her show 'Swings and Roundabouts'. She's returning this year with the same show for three performances only at the Pleasance Courtyard from August 20-22. There's also a work in progress show with a Q&A called 'Small Talk' at the Monkey Barrel from August 16-20. | Contributed
10. Will Adamsdale
Will Adamsdale was a surprise winner fo the then Perrier Award in 2004 in character as a turbo-charged motivational coach in 'Jackson's Way'. He's making a welcome return to the Fringe this year with 'AI, AI, Oh... (Or How I Wrote a Hit Sitcom with ChatGPT But We're Not...' at the Underbelly from August 7-29. | Getty Images
11. Josie Long
Fringe favourite Josie Long - who now lives in Glasgow - was crowned Best Newcomer back in 2006 for her show 'Kindness & Exuberance', and has been back nearly every August since. This year she's only scheduled for one show - an 'In Conversation' appearance at The Stand at 12.45pm on August 11. | Contributed
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
12. Ahir Shah
Ahir Sha's poignant, playful and politically-engaged show 'Ends' scooped the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2023 - despite it initially being billed as a work in progress. He's back with a finished show entitled 'Golden', about "love, money, family, responsibility, fear, forever and frogs." See him at the Pleasance Courtyard from August 6-30. | Getty Images