Foster's Edinburgh Comedy 'Oscars': Who Will Scoop The Award?

The two shortlists for this years Foster's Comedy awards have been released, and the judges have a few days to decide on the winners, reports The Telegraph.

Every year, chaos descends on the city of Edinburgh. The architecturally stunning city - positively steeped in history and tradition - is host to arguably the words biggest showcase for comedy and theatre. Every August it welcomes millions of visitors from around the globe into its hilly, drizzly arms. Various talents jostle for position, hurtling flyers into one's hand and performing ad hoc, impromptu street-shows to persuade the droves of culture-hungry tourists that their show is 'the one to see'. The Fosters Comedy Awards celebrate the more established acts; the ones with stars emblazoned on their posters. So prestigious are the awards, prospective entertainers will be checking the nominee list as furiously as they were writing their material come July.

Josie Long is shortlisted for main award, completing a hat trick of nominations. She is hoping to beat Claudia O'Doherty, Doctor Brown, James Acaster, Pappy's Last Show Ever and Tony Law to get her gag-writing mitts on the prize. Daniel Simonsen, David Trent, Ben Target, Joe Lycett and Sam Fletcher have all been nominated for the best newcomer award, which has launched the careers of some of todays most prominent entertainers, none more so than Stephen Fry and Steve Coogan, with the latter now working with Fosters to distribute much of his work as Alan Partridge.