The Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards shortlists for 2007 nominees were announced by its organisers on August 22, after having made 1119 visits to 335 different comedy shows over two weeks.

The shortlist is controversial in that it has only one female stand-up, Zoe Lyons, in of a year that saw on the highest ever number of female comedy shows at the Fringe.

Producer/director of the Awards Nica Burns was more positive about the nominations: "What a fantastic year! This exciting shortlist was chosen after an extremely lively debate amongst the judging panel. Three completely different stand-ups - Edinburgh regulars Andrew Maxwell and Brendon Burns and last year's newcomer, Andrew Lawrence; a terrific sketch show in Pappy's Fun Club and perfect Edinburgh character comedy from Ivan Brackenbury's Hospital Radio Roadshow. The Newcomer's shortlist was even more hotly contested with a number of promising first-time solo shows."

The nominees for the 2007 Intelligent Finance Comedy Award are:

Andrew Lawrence: Social Leprosy for Beginners & Improvers
Andrew Maxwell: Waxin'
Brendon Burns: So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now
Ivan Brackenbury's Hospital Radio Roadshow
Pappy's Fun Club: Pappy's Fun Club

The nominees for Intelligent Finance Best Newcomer are:

Jon Richardson: Spatula Pad
Micky Flanagan: What Chance Change
Tom Basden: Won't Say Anything
Zoe Lyons: Fight or Flight

The Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards, including the Panel Prize, will be presented by American actor Christian Slater on Saturday 25th August at Midnight at the The Jam House in Edinburgh.

The if.comedy Awards: a Comedy Cuts Special will be broadcast on ITV 2 on Sunday 26th August at 10pm.

Related links

Christian Slater returns