The producers of the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards have confirmed that award-winning stand-up comedian and writer Sarah Millican is backing the ISH with a donation of £4,000 to fund the Newcomer Prize this year. 100% of any donations goes to the artists in the form of prizes.
Sarah Millican says "I won a Newcomer award once and as well as the career lift and confidence boost, it enabled me to pay off my car loan. Very happy to help some new funny person kill off a bit of their debt and give them a comedy pat on the back."
This year producers Nathan Cassidy and Sarah Bowles have not yet revealed the total prize fund, just that it's 'bigger than last year', which totalled £12,500.01 - the final prize levels across the other Awards will be revealed during August.
2026 will mark the fourth year of the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards, which involves a voluntary panel of judges seeing every eligible comedy show at the Fringe. Prizes last year were £4000 each for Best Show and Best Newcomer, £3000 for the Panel Prize, £1000 for Best Tech and £500.01 for the Best Joke. Last year’s prize fund was made up from donations from Elf Lyons, Rhod Gilbert, TakeOver Radio 106.9FM and James Corden. It was revealed in April that all four are backing the awards again this year.
Awards founder, comedian Nathan Cassidy says, ‘I am blown away by Sarah’s generous donation and backing. As well as the cash I am also delighted with the backing from such a brilliant and much-loved comedian. The ISH is about delivering as close as we can a true meritocracy at the Fringe - every eligible show is seen and it doesn't matter what venue you are in, your background, your industry support, your audience numbers, everyone is in with a chance. This ethos is something I’m very proud of and I will be talking more about that before the Fringe; we are planning to open up avenues where others can back the ISH initiative too, not just with money. The ISH is a bigger thing this year. Watch this space!'
Awards Producer Sarah Bowles says 'We are of course over the moon to reveal Sarah's backing of the ISH this year. As well as being able to give such a large prize to the winner of the Newcomer Award, the real win I feel is the good feeling these awards generate and to have the backing of a great comedian like Sarah supporting other artists is priceless. As one person that was nominated commented to us… ‘you have not just changed my Fringe, you’ve changed my life - because it’s given me hope that comedians like me are seen.’
We have comments like this all the time from creatives now, it’s this that makes us most happy and spurs us on to give so much time for this. Please keep the kind words and support coming as it’s what fuels us, and if you want to get involved as a judge or in any other way, please contact me via the website.'
Visit www.edinburghcomedyawards.com for more information on the Awards, clips, eligibility, and sponsors. All eligible shows for the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards must be under the primary category of Comedy, be 45 mins or more and not be compilation shows, and certain short-runs aren't eligible as judges long-list shows after two weeks of the Fringe and then produce a short-list and winner in the final week.
Picture: Matt Crockett
