
Edinburgh, 27th August: The results of the most prestigious prizes in live comedy, Daves Edinburgh Comedy Awards, have been announced today at a ceremony held at the Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh. In the 40th year of the awards, Sam Campbell has been announced as the winner of Daves Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Comedy Show, and Lara Ricote is Daves Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer, whilst Best in Class has been awarded the Panel Prize.
Sam Campbell is an Australian comic whose show goes into weird, diverting and fun places. Hes the sixth Australian to win the award following Los Trios Ringbarkus (1983). Lano and Woodley (1994), Brendon Burns (2007), Sam Simmons (2015) and Hannah Gadsby (2017). Sam comes well equipped with sharp observations and snappy one-liners and is a cult favourite on the comedy scene. The Telegraph says: The amusement motors along so quickly, with such handbrake-turns of tone and for-the-hell-of-it bouts of recircling emphasis, it attains a runaway uncontrollable hilarity. The Guardian adds: Operating at a fine comic pitch.
Lara Ricote is a girl (woman), shes Latinx and shes hard of hearing. A triple threat. Her show GRL/LATNX/DEF is about all of those things - its minority jokes for majority crowds. She was born in Mexico, grew up in the US and now does stand-up and improv in the Netherlands. Shes also developing a sitcom with Fudge Park about her and her (also deaf) sisters relationship. The Guardian says: The endearing comics Edinburgh debut is a riotously inventive show that blurs notions of race, gender and disability, whilst The Skinny says: Lara Ricotes debut Edinburgh Fringe hour, GRL/LATNX/DEF is full of energy, goofiness and heart.
Celebrating the best of both established and up-and-coming comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this years leading panel of judges, consisting of seven industry professionals and three comedy punters representing the public, saw nearly 600 eligible shows. The presenters for the ceremony this year were 2019 winner Jordan Brookes and four times nominee Russell Kane, who won the 30th anniversary award for Best Comedy Show in 2010. Alfie Brown, Colin Hoult, Jordan Gray, Josh Pugh, Larry Dean, Lauren Pattison, Liz Kingsman, Seann Walsh and The Delightful Sausage were the other comics in the running for the Best Comedy Show accolade, whilst Amy Gledhill, Emily Wilson, Emmanuel Sonubi, Josh Jones, Leo Reich and Vittorio Angelone were Best Newcomer nominees.
The Panel Prize - which is at the discretion of the panel - has been awarded to Best in Class, a crowd-funded, profit-sharing initiative that champions working-class comedians from across the UK to access the Fringe. Sponsored by waste grounds, knock-off trainers, spam, weed, the unions, crap schools, bunking off, failed MOTs, failed GCSEs, bus-stops, pay-day loans, fierce mums, tired dads and empowerment. Previous acts have included BBC Comedy Award finalists and weekend comedy headliners, proving that the arts should be accessible to everyone, no matter what their background.
Nica Burns, Director of Daves Edinburgh Comedy Awards, says of this years awards:
A truly outstanding international year. Sam Campbell, winner of the Best Comedy Show award is original, sometimes surreal, his show is full of jokes and often unexpected. He changes gear throughout and takes his audience on a journey of laughter. Laras debut act at the Festival is an absolute delight. Shes completely distinct and very funny. She is a stand-out performer who happens to be hard of hearing. Weve had the widest representation from across the whole country, from Scotland to Sussex and everywhere in between. The Panel Prize for Best in Class championing and supporting those who cannot afford the cost of performing in Edinburgh has caught the spirit of this years Fringe.
The awards are sponsored by UKTVs award-winning entertainment channel Dave, with the aim of further celebrating and supporting comics, from much-loved names to those breaking into the industry.
Cherie Cunningham, Dave channel director , says:
Were over the moon at Dave to be supporting and celebrating these amazing comics. The standard was incredibly high this year and were so pleased to crown such deserving winners. We look forward to seeing Lara and Sam on Dave soon.
The prize money for Best Comedy Show is £10,000, with £5,000 each for the Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize winner. A full history of the winners and nominees, eligibility rules and all other details about the Awards can be found at: www.comedyawards.co.uk
More from UKTV
02/06/2026
Praise for series three:
The Times - sun-dappled pleasure
The Daily Mail - The Homes Counties' Charlie's Angels
The Sun - 4* this [is an] enjoya...
29/05/2026
Youtube exclusive special drops today
Watch now
UKTV today announces another e...
15/05/2026
The six-part series is a co-commission with BritBox and Sony Pictures Television...
14/05/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
08/05/2026
Pete reunites with Dogs Trust for a fourth series and a two-part overseas special
London, Friday 8th May 2026: The award winning factual entertainment series P...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
29/04/2026
Rhod Gilbert, Harriet Kemsley, Kae Kurd, Sara Pascoe and Vicki Pattison to take part in brand new series on free streaming service U
Free streaming service U i...
22/04/2026
U have unveiled exclusive first-look images for their six-part police thriller Hit Point, starring Nick Blood (Day of the Jackal) and BAFTA nominee Saffron Hock...
22/04/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
16/04/2026
Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss, with series one available on Sky, Virgin Media and NOW
Praise for series one:
Daily Mail - 5****
The...
10/04/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
01/04/2026
UKTV today announces that Jonathan Newman has formally stepped into the role of ...
17/03/2026
UKTV today announces the appointment of Sam Tewungwa as Chief Executive Officer, who will lead the company's next phase of growth.
Tewungwa, currently Mana...
11/03/2026
Following a successful first series, UKTV today announces the commission of two ...
09/03/2026
UKTV has agreed a new partnership deal with Samsung that makes UKTV's free linear channels available to internet-only Samsung TV viewers in the UK for the f...
26/02/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week's highlights include new episodes of Will and Ralf Should Know Better, The Marlow Murder Club...
24/02/2026
Paul C. Brunson: Red Flag to be produced by FirstLookTV and launch in 2026
UKTV...
19/02/2026
What can I watch on UK TV this week?What can I stream on U this week?
This guide highlights new and returning comedy, a critically acclaimed drama series avai...
13/02/2026
What can I watch on UKTV this week?What can I stream on U this week?
This guide highlights romantic dramas for Valentine's Day, alternative relationship t...
06/02/2026
What can I watch on TV in the UK this week? What can I watch on U&GOLD? What can I stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV, viewers can watch a range of new a...
05/02/2026
BBC Studios and UKTV have appointed Karin Marelle to lead their Global Acquisitions team, overseeing the sourcing of content across BBC Studios' global chan...
03/02/2026
Mel Giedroyc fronts brand new comedy entertainment format
3rd February 2026, London: U and U&Dave is set to launch brand-new escape room comedy entertainment s...
02/02/2026
Ahead of the hotly anticipated return of Bergerac to U and U&DRAMA in the Spring, a teaser has been released to give viewers a glimpse at what's in store in...
29/01/2026
New two-part true crime documentary, OUTBACK TERROR: THE FALCONIO MURDER, aims to shed new light on a case that continues to intrigue on both sides of the world...
26/01/2026
Bookish is created by and stars Mark Gatiss
Images available HERE
Following th...
15/01/2026
Views to free streaming service U grew by 15%, average monthly active users by 23% and registrations by 18%
UKTV's channels achieved record viewing share, ...
06/01/2026
Channel 4 and UKTV are giving viewers even more reasons to stream, with UKTV's U service set to feature thousands of hours of free, unmissable and bingeable...
15/12/2025
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes
Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...
25/11/2025
UKTV has acquired a high-profile slate of US dramas from Paramount Global Conten...
04/11/2025
Damien Moloney as Jim Bergerac
As filming wraps on the highly anticipated second series of Bergerac (6x60'), UKTV today unveils a selection of first look i...
30/10/2025
TIS THE SEASON TO GET PUNNY!
U&GOLD LAUNCHES ITS ANNUAL SEARCH FOR THE UK'S...
23/10/2025
The 90-minute film is produced by Rogan Scotland, part of BAFTA-winning Rogan Pr...
16/10/2025
TV's most charming detective drama * Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investi...
15/10/2025
Sheldon Nichols and Will Trickett to find and prepare more classic cars for budget conscious would-be owners from Wiser Films
UKTV have recommissioned the clas...
14/10/2025
Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will explore their favourite sitcoms together with help from stars such as Ricky Gervais
14th October, London: Comedians, writers,...
13/10/2025
Nick Blood and Saffron Hocking lead casting for Hit Point, brand new original drama series for U and U&Dave
Developed & Produced by Urban Myth Films (a STUDIOC...
09/10/2025
Channel 4 and UKTV announce ground-breaking deal to carry UKTV's U service o...
09/10/2025
U to host Clash of the Comics
First ever UK television screening for sellout live event
9th October 2025, London: Clash of the Comics, the wild, unpredictable...
29/09/2025
(L-R) Cara Horgan as Becks Starling, Samantha Bond as Judith Potts, Natalie Dew ...
12/09/2025
Feature-length retrospective from Studio Crook to air in 2026
Sir David Jason returns to the nation's favourite comedy channel, U&GOLD, for Open All Hours:...
11/09/2025
UKTV's free streaming service U launches on Sky Q
Free streaming service U has launched on Sky Q in the UK, UKTV and Sky confirm today, expanding the footp...
03/09/2025
Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss
The Guardian - An arch...
28/08/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premiere of Art Detectives, the compelling new crime an...
20/08/2025
U&Dave today announces its first ever original drama series, Hit Point (6x60'), which will also be available to stream on U. Written by BAFTA-winner Howard ...
13/08/2025
TV's most likeable proper bloke returns to tackle more demanding and dangerous trades in a new series of Guy Martin: Proper Jobs for U and U&Dave
UKTV is ...
04/08/2025
UKTV has commissioned a new series of Canal Boat Diaries (10x60) for its free streaming service U and leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY, under licence from th...
31/07/2025
Record recommission will take show past 200 episodes and into 2028. Spin-off, Ba...
29/07/2025
Filming is now underway with Damien Molony and wider cast returning to Jersey for Bergerac, written by Toby Whithouse alongside Ashley Sanders, Emilie Robson an...
23/07/2025
UKTV today announces that senior executives Steve North and Hilary Rosen will be handed expanded remits to take on greater responsibility for channels and conte...