if.comedy Award
(formerly the Perrier award)

Created by sponsors Perrier in 1981, this has become the most coveted of all comedy prizes. Awarded to the best comedy show on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it has, for better or for worse, created a competitive edge to the event. Perrier added a best newcomer category in 1992.

The award is open to any 'original cabaret, comedy, revue in sketch form or stand-up' 50 minutes or longer and cannot be performed by someone judged to already have star status, defined as someone able to fill a theatre on their own, or have had their own TV show. Previous winners are also ineligible.

in 2006, Perrier ended their association with the awards and internet bank Intelligent Finance took over sponsorship. They are now known as the if.comedy awards

Previous winners and nominees

1981: Cambridge Footlights including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson

1982: Writers Inc.

1983: Los Trios Ringbarkus

1984: The Brass Band
Nominees: Fascinating Aida, Hank Wangford Band, Frank Chickens, The Bodgers, The Brass Band

1985: Theatre De Complicité
Nominees: The Bodgers, Merry Mac Fun Show, Paul B Davies, Sue Ingleton

1986: Ben Keaton
Nominees: Paul B Davies, Roy Hutchins, Jenny Lecoat, Merry Mac Fun Show

1987: Brown Blues (Arnold Brown and Jungr & Parker)
Nominees: Nick Revell, Jeremy Hardy, Simon Fanshawe, John Sparkes

1988: Jeremy Hardy
Nominees: Doug Anthony Allstars, Roy Hutchins, Robert Lewellyn's Mammon, The Wow Show

1989: Simon Fanshawe
Nominees: John Hegley, Al and George, Will Durst, Live Bed Show, The World Of Les and Robert

1990: Sean Hughes
Nominees: Dillie Keane - Single Again, Pete McCarthy - The Hangover Show, Jimmy Tingle

1991: Frank Skinner
Nominees: Avner The Eccentric, Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, Lily Savage

1992: Steve Coogan In Character With John Thomson
Nominees: Jo Brand, Bruce Morton, John Shuttleworth's Guide To Stardom, Mark Thomas
Best Newcomer: Harry Hill

1993: Lee Evans
Nominees: Corky and The Juice Pigs, Phil Kay, Johnny Meres, Donna McPhail, Parrot, Greg Proops
Best Newcomer: Dominic Holland

1994: Lano & Woodley
Nominees: Alan Davies, Jeff Green, Harry Hill's Pub lnternationale, Owen O'Neill, Robert Schimel
Best Newcomer: Scott Capurro

1995: Jenny Eclair
Nominees: Simon Bligh, Scott Capurro, Boothby Graffoe, The Umbilical Brothers
Best Newcomer: Tim Vine

1996: Dylan Moran
Nominees: Armstrong and Miller, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Dominic Holland, Al Murray
Best Newcomer Award: Milton Jones

1997: The League of Gentlemen
Nominees: Milton Jones, Al Murray, Graham Norton, Johnny Vegas
Best Newcomer: Arj Barker

1998: Tommy Tiernan
Nominees: Ed Byrne, Sean Cullen, Peter Kay, Al Murray,
Best Newcomer: The Mighty Boosh

1999: Al Murray
Nominees: Terry Alderton, Arctic Boosh, The League Against Tedium, Ross Noble
Best Newcomer: Ben 'n' Arn

2000: Rich Hall as Otis Lee Crenshaw
Nominees: Are You Dave Gorman?, Lee Mack, Garth Marenghi, Sean Lock
Best Newcomer: Noble & Silver. Nominated: Andrew Clover: A Man Of Substance In A World Of Filth, Dan Antopolski

2001: Garth Marenghi's Netherhead
Nominees: Dan Antopolski, Jason Byrne, Adam Hills, Daniel Kitson
Best Newcomer: Let's Have A Shambles. Nominated: Andy Zaltzman, Cambridge Footlights

2002: Daniel Kitson
Nominees: Jimmy Carr, Omid Djalili, Noel Fielding, Adam Hills, Phil Nichol
Best Newcomer: The Consultants. Nominated: Natalie Haynes, Reginald D Hunter, Hal Cruttenden

2003: Demetri Martin
Nominees: Adam Hills, Howard Read, Flight Of The Conchords, Reginald D Hunter
Best Newcomer: Gary Le Strange. Nominated: Alex Horne, Michael McIntrye, Miles Jupp

2004: Jackson's Way
Nominees: Chris Addison, Reginald D Hunter, Epitaph, Sarah Kendall
Best Newcomer: Wil Hodgson. Nominated: Alun Cochrane, Joanna Neary, Sabotage

2005: Laura Solon: Kopfrapers Syndrome:
Nominees :Chris Addison: Atomicity, Dutch Elm Conservatoire: Conspiracy, Jason Manford: Urban Legend, Jeremy Lion: What's The Time, Mr Lion
Best Newcomer: Tim Minchin: Darkside. Nominees: Charlie Pickering- Betterman, Mark Watson:50 Years Before Death, Rhod Gilbert's 1984,,Toulson and Harvey

2006: Phil Nichol: The Naked Racist
Nominees :David O'Doherty Is My Name, Paul Sinha: Saint Or Sinha, Russell Howard, We Are Klang: KlangBang
Best Newcomer: Josie Long: Kindness And Exuberance. Nominees: Andrew Lawrence: How To Butcher Your Loved Ones, Fat Tongue, God's Pottery, Russell Kane's Theory of Pretension
Panel Prize: Mark Watson

2007: Brendon Burns: So I Suppose THIS Is Offensive Now
Nominees: Andrew Lawrence: Social Leprocy For Beginners, Andrew Maxwell: Waxin', Ivan Brackenbury's Hospital Radio Roadshow and Pappy's Fun Club
Best Newcomer: Tom Basden: Won't Say Anything. Nominees: Jon Richardson: Spatula Pad, Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change and Zoe Lyons: Fight or Flight?
Panel Prize: Arthur Smith’s Arturart exhibition

2008:David O'Doherty: Let's Comedy
Nominees: Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler: Double Down Hearts, Rhod Gilbert And The Award-Winning Mince Pie and Russell Kane: Gaping Flaws
Best Newcomer: Sarah Millican's Not Nice. Nominees: Pippa Evans And Other Lonely People, Mike Wozniak
Panel Prize: Shared between all the comedians at the Fringe. Prize given in the form of a party on the last night.