With a over 3,300 shows to choose from across 265 venues at this year's feast of culture, 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 17 winners you can see in Edinburgh this year.
17. Tim Key
Tim Key lifted the Edinburgh Comedy Award with the deceptively clever comedy poetry of 'The Slutcracker' in 2009 - beating shortlisted John Bishop in the process. He's since gone on to become Alan Partridge's assistant Dan, along with a string of other television and film appearances - including co-writing and starring in this year's critically-acclaimed comedy 'The Ballad of Wallis Island'. He's at the Pleasance Courtyard this year, with his latest show 'Loganberry' from July 30-August 17. | Jonathan Birch