The Stage

Burns to fund rebranded 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Awards

Published Wednesday 3 June 2009 at 15:25 by Lalayn Baluch

Edinburgh’s leading live comedy award - which found itself without a sponsor following Intelligent Finance’s decision not to renew its deal for this summer’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe – has been rebranded and will run without sponsorship this year.

The prize will now be permanently titled the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Eddies for short, rather than being named after its financial backers.

It will be funded this year by Nica Burns - chief executive of Nimax Theatres and president of the Society of London Theatres - who has been running the awards since 1984.

Speaking today at an announcement about the awards, Burns explained that she had rejected an offer of sponsorship from one potential backer based on “ethical” reasons.

She said: “For us, who we associate with is pretty critical. Comedians are political - most are ethical and have very strong opinions. So there were sponsors where we couldn’t take money, even though other people could and have.

“This year I had to turn down some money which was a difficult decision, but we will have sponsors next year. That gives me two things – I can get the title established, but also I can get the right money. We can’t take money that doesn’t match.”

Founded in 1981 as the Perrier Awards to recognise the best comedy show on the Edinburgh fringe, the prize quickly grew to be the most prestigious gong on the comedy circuit.

The sponsorship of the awards attracted outcry from some groups when Perrier was purchased by Nestle.

Intelligent Finance, the internet and phone banking arm of HBOS, took over the sponsorship in 2006.

Burns explained that the cash prize for the award would be the same as previous years - £8,000 for the Best Comedy Show winner, and £4,000 each for Best Newcomer and Panel Prize.

The overall winner will also have the opportunity to perform at the Montreal, Toronto and Chicago Just For Laughs Comedy Festivals.

However, organisers are yet to confirm whether the winners will have the chance to perform in a London showcase following the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The awards shortlist will be announced on August 26, and the winners will be named three days later.