The Edinburgh Comedy Awards returns to celebrate 45 years of championing the next generation of comedic talent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025.
At a time when the Fringe remains the key launchpad for comedic careers, the role of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in supporting emerging talent is more vital than ever.
The 2025 Edinburgh Comedy Awards are co-sponsored by Nica Burns, Donald Taffner of DLT Entertainment and the Victoria Wood Foundation.
The ‘Spirit of the Fringe’ Panel Prize, awarded at the discretion of the judging panel to the act that best captures the essence of the Fringe, is now known as the Victoria Wood Award in tribute to the beloved comedy icon.
To further spotlight this year’s nominees and support them with opportunities in the increasingly vital world of audio, BBC Radio 4 will broadcast a special showcase recorded at The Gilded Balloon. Hosted by last year’s Best Comedy Show winner, Amy Gledhill, the programme offers listeners across the UK a chance to experience the energy and excitement of the 2025 Edinburgh Comedy Awards and hear some of the best bits from our nominees. It will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 21st August at 23:00, and available to catch up on BBC Sounds.
Nica Burns CBE, Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said: "In 2025, we are celebrating the 45th birthday of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards! We are only five years away from our half century!! Spotlighting the best up-and-coming talent at the Edinburgh Fringe is a huge privilege, which we take very seriously. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is, and always will be, the world showcase for comedy talent and every year we look forward to discovering the next generation of comedy stars.
This year, we said a fond goodbye to Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Fringe Society who was such a wonderful champion of the Fringe. We are looking forward to working with her successor, Tony Lankester, who brings a wealth of experience and a steady pair of hands to this vital and challenging role.
We would like to offer some big thank yous. Firstly, to our illustrious panel of judges and supporting scouts, who will collectively watch thousands of hours of comedy over the next month. We’re equally grateful to our returning co-sponsors: DLT Entertainment, The Taffner Family Charitable Trust, the Victoria Wood Foundation, and of course, me!
Comedy has been the largest genre at the Fringe for many years now and I predict it will still be the largest when the Edinburgh Comedy Awards celebrate their 100th year in 2080! Looking forward to a bumper festival for all!"
Donald Taffner, Jr., Chairman of DLT Entertainment UK Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Comedy Awards are the most prestigious honours in comedy, and supporting them is deeply personal for me. My parents founded DLT Entertainment 62 years ago, and I grew up in a household that believed in nurturing talent and celebrating laughter. The Fringe is the highlight of my year — and yes, I still try to beat my own record for shows seen.
DLT Entertainment is proud to sponsor the Best Newcomer Award, championing the rising stars just starting to make their mark. And through the Taffner Family Trust’s support of the Taffner Family Best Comedy Show, we honour a family tradition of backing brilliant performers who keep pushing comedy forward.”
The Judging Panel
Audible’s Director of Original Content and Comedy Commissioner Sam Bryant will chair the judging panel, in the first year an audio streaming platform has been represented and in recognition of podcasts and radio as vital mediums for emerging comic talent.
The carefully curated 2025 judging panel is made up of seven industry experts and three knowledgeable and avid comedy fans from the general public who are selected through an open application process. The 2025 judging panel is made up of:
Sam Bryant: Director of Original Content and Comedy Commissioner, Audible (Chair)
Josh Buckingham: Executive Producer, Hat Trick Productions
Ashley Davies: Freelance Arts Journalist, Metro, Times Scotland, Scotsman
Shukri Dire: Development Producer, Scripted, BBC TalentWorks
Tristram Fane Saunders: Freelance Journalist and Comedy Critic, The Telegraph and Editor of The Little Review
Rachael Healy: Freelance Comedy and Theatre Writer, The Guardian and The Observer
James Robinson: Executive Producer, BBC Studios Audio
Janet Jackson: Public panellist
Krishna Kapur: Public panellist
Justine Teasdale: Public panellist
The Edinburgh Comedy Awards has a proven history of spotting comedy brilliance. Past winners have amassed 540 television writing credits, 46 directing credits and over 1,500 acting credits, and nominees have 549 writing credits, 72 directing credits and over 1,300 acting credits on screen. Best Newcomer nominee Alex Horne created the BAFTA award-winning TV series Taskmaster, which has had appearances from 40 winners and nominees across its 20 series.
