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.
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17. John Kearns
Comedy genius John Kearns is the only person to have won both the Best Newcomer Award and the Main Prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards - in 2013 and 2014. He'll presumably be back in his trademark false teeth and wig for his new show 'Tilting at Windmills' at the Monkey Barrel from August 18-30. "A fragmented, digressing portrayal of a 38-year-old man’s life, alluding to books he hasn't read, touching on the modern condition." | Contributed
18. Rose Matafeo
Rose Matafeo won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show in 2018 with 'Horndog' and quickly went to to become a television star with sitcom 'Starstruck'. This year she'll be performing a morning work in progress show at the Monkey Barrel from August 17-30. | Getty Images