In a terrific year for comedy at the Fringe, the winners of the 2010 Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly the Perriers) are Russell Kane, Roisin Conaty and Bo Burnham. The prizes - cheques for £10,000, £5,000 and £5,000 - were presented to the three comedians on Saturday in the Spiegel Tent in George Square in a celebration of 30 years of these awards.
The 10-strong panel (critics, producers and members of the public who won competitions based on their extensive knowledge of live comedy) debated long and hard to whittle down 400-plus eligible shows, and it was good to see so many women nominated - not only Newcomer winner Roisin Conaty but also whimsy merchant Josie Long and Sarah Millican for the main award. It was pleasing, too, to see the judges go beyond the big venues to place Imran Yusuf on the newcomer list.
Old Fringe hand Russell Kane made it third time lucky, winning on his third successive nomination for the main award. Bo Burnham, the American 20-year-old (just) sensation, missed the main award but was compensated by the Panel's prestigious prize (picture left, receiving his award on Saturday).
The Comedy God award, voted by the public as their favourite from a list of every act nominated in 30 years of the awards, went to Japanese sketch group Frank Chickens. The award has been mired in controversy after being attacked by comics including Stewart Lee and Robin Ince, who believe the award is a commercially inspired nonsense and suggested the public vote for the most obscure act. Kazuko Hohki, lead member of Frank Chickens, who were nominated in 1985, said she was amused by all the attention, but that Frank Chickens were not comedians - rather a band of performance artists.
- Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog
- Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words
- Josie Long: Be Honourable!
- Sarah Millican: Chatterbox
- An Audience with Imran Yusuf
- Asher Treleaven: Secret Door
- Gareth Richards: Stand Up Between Songs
- Late Night Gimp Fight!
- The Boy With Tape on His Face
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