The Intelligent
Finance Comedy Awards, the UK's premier comedy awards, are now in their 28th year.
The two awards are given for the most outstanding up-and-coming, funny, original comedy show
at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The main prize is £8,000, plus headlining The
Intelligent Finance Comedy Award shows in London's West End with the awards shortlist.
The
nominees for the 2008 Intelligent Finance Comedy Award with their Ladbroke odds
are
David O'Doherty:
Let's Comedy 2/1
Kristen Schaal
and Kurt Braunohler: Double Down Hearts 6/1
Rhod Gilbert and
the Award Winning Mince Pie
5/4 favourite
Russell Kane:
Gaping Flaws 7/2
The
nominees for Intelligent Finance Best Newcomer are:
Mike Wozniak
Pippa Evans and Other
Lonely People
Sarah Millican's
Not Nice
Nica
Burns, the veteran producer/director of the Awards says: "In a year
where a number of shows made it to the final animated discussion the four
nominees presented shows which combined outstanding material and performance in
a shortlist which offers something comedic for everyone: David O'Doherty's
effortless charm with song, Americans Kristen and Kurt's utterly quirky and
unique double-act, Welshman Rhod Gilbert, whose perfectly structured,
gag-packed show has moved him into a new league and livewire stand-up Russell
Kane's brilliantly energetic celebration of family, relationships and life's
imperfections.
The
Newcomer nomination list reflects the extremely talented crop of new
performers. We are delighted to see two highly impressive women amongst the
three nominees: Pippa Evans, a wonderful character comic who also writes and
performs songs and Sarah Millican a classic stand-up with an outstanding
command of the audience. The third nominee Mike Wozniak's stand-up show is a
striking hour demonstrating writing and performing skills that make him, along
with the others, a name to watch.
The 2008
if.comedy awards was judged by a distinguished panel of journalists, radio and television
producers plus members of the public who won competitions in Time Out and The
Times.
Chair of the 2008
judging panel is Bruce Dessau - Comedy Critic of the London Evening Standard.
The
panel for 2008 is:
Tim Arthur - Comedy Editor, Time Out Magazine
Julian
Hall - Comedy Critic for
The Independent and Author of The Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy
Victoria
Payne - Deputy Editor of
Comedy Entertainment, TalkbackThames
Karen Rosie - Producer, BBC TV Comedy
Paul
Schlesinger - Head of Radio
Comedy, BBC
Jonathan
Trew - Freelance
Journalist
Rosanna
Bond - Times Winner, Alison
Leitch - Times Winner
Jude
Stone - Time Out Winner
Over a two-week
period the panel, between them, have seen over 350 different comedy shows. The shows will now be seen
for a second time with the award being announced on Saturday 23rd August at Midnight at the Jam House in Queen Street.
A chance to see the winner and the nominees of the UK's premier comedy award on one
bill! This outstanding comedy show brings you tomorrow's big stars
today.
August 24th
The Pleasance Courtyard, 0131 556 6550
23.15pm (1hr 30mins)
£14.00 (£13.00)
August 25th
Assembly @George Street, 0131 623 3030
20.45 (1HR 30Mins)
£14.00 (£13.00)