| Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2009 – 29 Years of Discovering Comic Genius |
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The UK’s most important and much loved live comedy awards dubbed “The unofficial Oscars of Comedy”, is being re-branded as the Edinburgh Comedy Awards (the Eddies for short), following a consultation with the industry. Founded in 1981 as the Perrier Awards to recognise the best comedy show on the Edinburgh fringe, the prize quickly grew to be the most prestigious gong on the comedy circuit. For the first time, the winner of the best comedy show will be invited to perform at the Just for Laughs comedy festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Chicago. However, organisers are yet to confirm whether the winners will have the chance to perform in a London showcase following the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Last year’s Best Comedy Show winner, David O'Doherty, who is currently on his first UK tour, recently finished a 4 week sell out tour of Canada and a 2 week Soho Theatre run in London, playing the main house and selling out every night. He recently appeared on “Never Mind the Buzzcocks” and continues his first tour with dates into the New Year. The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 26th August 2009 and the winner announced on Saturday 29th August 2009. In order to hit increasingly earlier press deadlines, the winners will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony, not at midnight as before. Nica Burns, the event’s award director said: “In a now highly developed, competitive and successful comedy industry – the Edinburgh Comedy Awards remain an independent force for uncovering outstanding comedy talent. 2010 will be our 30th anniversary and having gone international in 2009, I look forward to the Awards’ 50th anniversary when perhaps we will break the final frontier and send our winner to perform in space!” Visit the official website at www.comedyawards.co.uk
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