Latest news with #EdinburghComedyAwards
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Edinburgh Fringe has popular feature SCRAPPED from festival after 18 years
Previous winners said the closure of the awards was 'sad' NO JOKE Edinburgh Fringe has popular feature SCRAPPED from festival after 18 years THE 'Funniest joke of the Fringe' award has been scrapped from this year's Edinburgh Festival - after 18 years of pun-heavy gags. U&Dave's annual award has been scrapped - with the TV station behind the gong saying it is "resting". Advertisement 3 Comedian Lorna Rose Treen became the first woman to pick up the award since 2008 Credit: PA 3 Tim Vine also previously won the award Credit: PA:Press Association UKTV, which has run the contest every year since 2008, except during the pandemic, said it was "incredibly proud" of the legacy of the award "and the laughter it has inspired". Previous winners have included Tim Vine, Olaf Falafal and Zoe Lyons. And Lorna Rose Treen became the first woman to pick up the award since 2008. Last year's winner was comedian Mark Simmons. Advertisement He scooped the award with the joke: "I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it." UKTV added: "As our commissioning focus evolves, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on how we continue to support comedy in the best way possible. While we're resting the award this year, we'll always look for ways to bring laughter to audiences in exciting ways UKTV "While we're resting the award this year, we remain committed to championing great comedy across U&Dave and beyond. "And we'll always look for ways to bring laughter to audiences in exciting ways." Advertisement Comedian Olaf Falafel, who has won the award seven times, said the closure of the awards was "sad", referencing one of his winning jokes. He said: "From a personal point of view, it's sad that an avenue for championing joke writing has closed. Edinburgh Fringe tourist wins year worth of free beer "But as my dad used to say to me: 'Pints, gallons, litres,' which I think speaks volumes." In 2015, it was claimed the winning joke by Darren Walsh was "stolen" from another comedian. Advertisement The U&Dave award is separate to the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, which have run since 1981.
Scotsman
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh comedy award winner Joe Kent-Walters returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with more Frankie Monroe
Award winning comedian Joe Kent-Walters is set to return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year with a brand new hour, 'Joe Kent Walters is Frankie Monroe: DEAD!!! (good fun time)'. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This follows a triumphant debut run at the Fringe last year which saw Joe sell out his entire month-long run as well as extra shows added to keep up with demand. The end of last year's festival also saw Joe take home the award for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. As well as the Best Newcomer Award, Joe also received nominations for NextUp's Biggest Award in Comedy, the 2024 ISH Comedy Awards' Best Newcomer and Best Newcomer in the Comedian's Choice Awards 2024. He has since been performing the show across the UK including three sold out runs at London's Soho Theatre. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Last year, Joe delighted Fringe audiences with his devilish comedic creation Frankie Monroe (the MC of Rotherham's working men's club – The Misty Moon). In his debut show, we witnessed Frankie lose his club as he got dragged by his balls into the pits of hell. This year, we pick up where we left off, Frankie is down in hell and working as an Entertainments Officer. But while Frankie is thrilling hell dwellers like a Butlins Redcoat in the land of the dead, he hears whispers that back upstairs his club has been taken over by his old rival Vegas Dave, who is trying to gentrify the club for cash. Can Frankie get out from hell and save his club from a fate of IPAs and overpriced shite? Expect this show to be bigger and better with even more characters, even catchier songs, and even more trickier tricks. 'Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: DEAD!!! (good fun time)' is directed by Jonathan Oldfield and written by Joe Kent-Walters with Molly McGuinness. Joe Kent-Walters as Frankie Monroe As well as Best Newcomer, Joe is also the winner of the BBC New Comedy Award 2023 and winner of the Best Show award at the Leicester Comedy Festival 2024 with this debut hour as well as a past winner of the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2021.
