Applications have opened to be a Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award public panellist. Anyone interested will need to be in Edinburgh from August 10 to August 24 and will see around six shows a day in that time. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered and, of course, tickets will all be free. More details here.

If you are a comedy fan and the dates work for you this is a no-brainer. I’ve been on the panel and chaired it a few times over the years and it’s always terrific fun. Hard, but immensely rewarding work. Yes, you do see some duff shows, but you will also see the best shows in Edinburgh. In fact if you are on the panel you will see all the shortlisted shows twice – a second time in the final week before the final, nail-biting meeting to pick the winner.

Previous public panellists have included Shane Allen, now a big cheese in TV comedy, and Hannah Chambers, an equally big cheese in comedy management, helping to guide the careers of the likes of Jimmy Carr and Jack Whitehall. Chambers also managed Daniel Kitson for a while so she clearly has a keen eye for talent.

Even if you don’t want to pursue a career in the comedy business, being on the panel is the best way to enjoy the festival. I’ve always felt it’s the nearest I’ve ever been to being Cinderella. When I’m on the panel and I arrive in Edinburgh I’m suddenly more important than I’ve felt for the rest of the year. Everyone wants to be your friend. You may even be bought drinks. The only downside is that once the winner is announced your coach and horses turns back into a pumpkin and a mouse. And as yet a Prince has never knocked on my door with a missing shoe.