THE most prestigious comedy prize at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has unveiled the longest short list in its history.
The Edinburgh Comedy Awards has announced a short list of nine nominations, with a strong showing for female comics.
The awards, currently sponsored by Lastminute.com but previously perhaps best known for its association with Perrier, also boasts, its director said, the "most equal gender balanced list ever", with four female comics nominated.
Two of the comics listed for the best comedy show award - Sophie Willan - and the best newcomer award - Lauren Pattison - have already been honoured with Herald Angel awards this August.
The short list for the best comedy show features Ms Willan, Ahir Shah, Elf Lyons, Hannah Gadsby, John Robins, Jordan Brookes, Mae Martin, Mat Ewins, and Spencer Jones.
Previous winners of the prize, established in 1981, include Al Murray, The League of Gentlemen, Dylan Moran, Jenny Eclair, Lee Evans and Rich Hall, among others.
Nica Burns, director of the awards, said: "Seventy years of the Fringe, 700 eligible shows: a record breaking year for comedy.
"An excellent long, long-list resulted in a particularly passionate and lively debate by the ten strong judging panel.
"It is unprecedented to see an almost gender- equal list with four women on the shortlist of nine, one more nomination than in 2015 and 2016, and some exciting new names for the public to discover."
The nominees for the best Newcomer Award are Ms Pattison, Chris Washington, Darren Harriott, Ed Night, Kwame Asante, Lucy Pearman, Natalie Palamides and Rob Kemp.
Ms Burns added: "The shortlist for Best Newcomer is the most diverse ever, young and exciting."
Ms Pattison's show was described as a "highly polished debut sharing her funny and poignant look at relationships."
The winners will be announced by Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton of the League of Gentlemen and 2016 Best Comedy Show winner Richard Gadd on Saturday 26 August at a ceremony at the Dovecote Studios.
The prize money for best comedy show is £10,000 with £5,000 each for the Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize winner.
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