The ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 have announced one additional sponsor for their Awards this year, James Corden.
The award winning actor, best known for his roles in Gavin & Stacey, The History Boys and Into The Woods, and host of TV chat show The Late, Late Show, is the final backer of this year's Awards, donating £10,000 to the prize fund. 100% of the sponsorship of the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards goes to the artists in the form of prizes.
James Corden says 'I'm honoured to be asked to support the brilliant ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards. It's a privilege for me to be able to be a part of this.'
The ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards, now in its third year, involves a voluntary panel of judges seeing every eligible comedy show at the Fringe. We can now reveal that the Prizes this year will be £4000 each for Best Show and Best Newcomer, £3000 for the Panel Prize, £1000 for Best Tech and £500.01 for the Best Joke.
Awards founder, comedian Nathan Cassidy says, 'When I met James to talk about the Awards he couldn't have been more giving with his time, and I am absolutely thrilled with his incredible generosity here. James loves the art of stand-up comedy and all forms of comedy and I am so grateful to him for backing the ISH Awards in such a major way. This really does shine the light for the future of these Awards, artists supporting artists. We all need to help each other when we can and James and the other other backers this year are truly leading the way for others to follow.'
Awards Producer Sarah Bowles says 'We are of course thrilled to reveal we actually have 6 amazing sponsors for our 5 Awards this year. We are very proud of all the Awards, and very proud that our Best Show Winners from the last two years have gone on to huge international success with their shows - Paul Foot, Julia Masli and Elf Lyons. But most importantly, it's about support, and supporting as many artists as possible no matter what their financial situation, and now we can support so many others with the Panel Prize, Tech and Joke prizes. I am immensely excited by our lists this year and the way they highlight so many different aspects of the Fringe.'
Winners will be revealed at the ceremony late night Friday 22nd August.
As previously revealed, the 5 Awards and their other sponsors are:
The Rhod Gilbert ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award Panel Prize
The incredible Rhod Gilbert has donated £500 for the Panel Prize this year which rewards anything else apart from the shows themselves from all the amazing things that happen at the Fringe. Rhod Gilbert says, ‘Over the last 20 odd years I've spent many fun, exciting but mainly gruelling months of my life performing at the Fringe. So many people come together to make this wondrous slog happen. The ISH Panel Prize aims to reward the unsung heroes of the Fringe, those beavering away out of the spotlight, making life for performers that little bit easier, cheaper, more fun or even just making it possible; here’s to them.'
The Patrick Monahan ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer
Legendary Fringe comedian and multi award winning Patrick Monahan, host of the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards ceremonies 2023, 2024 and 2025 has also generously donated £500 for the Award for Best Newcomer - but there's a catch, hopefully a good one! £250 of the prize will be made up of 2 support slots for his tour shows, £125 each, on dates to be agreed. So some cash and exposure, what's not to love! Patrick Monahan says, ‘in my life as a touring standup comedian, the most important thing about standup is performing live, about giving the best performance you can each and every night, and always take the cash over any award. If you don’t win this one, don’t worry, go and buy a scratchcard afterwards, you can still win! Best of luck. Big hugs, px”
The Lyons ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award for Tech
2024 Best Show Winner Elf Lyons has donated £500 towards the prize for this Award, for "an innovative technician and operator who creates for and aids the vision of performers through dynamic lighting and sound". Elf Lyons says, ‘There are so many technicians who without them, the vision of performers wouldn't be possible. These creatives work so hard and often run from one show to another like mad things trying to aid the visions of everyone. I am thrilled that through the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards we can honour these brilliant people."
The Takeover Radio 106.9FM ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award for 'Joke Of The Fringe'
The Cassidy Bowles James Corden ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show
Awards founder Nathan Cassidy continued, 'We couldn't really ask James and others to give monetary support for the Awards if we weren't prepared to do that ourselves. We are an artistic community, and the only way to face the challenges we face as a community is to support each other in new ways. Whilst some seek division, we always have the opportunity to show strength in togetherness, support and giving back. I am so immensely proud that we have all these people and organisations stepping up to support other artists.'
Visit the website www.edinburghcomedyawards.com for more information on the nominees for the 2025 Awards, clips, eligibility, and sponsors.
