Hull comic wins Best Comedy Show at Edinburgh Fringe

English comedian Amy Gledhill has won the best comedy show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Director of the comedy awards, Nica Burns, said the judges loved the fact that she “blends writing that echoes the genius of Victoria Wood combined with the magical physicality of Julie Walters”.

For the first time in its 43-year-history, male comedians were in the minority on the shortlist.

Gledhill, who is from Hull, is only the sixth solo female comedian to win the Best Comedy award with her show Make Me Look Fit on the Poster.

The Best Newcomer Award went to Joe Kent-Walters, from Huddersfield.

Ms Burns said “Amy Gledhill’s show is joyful, delightful and full of laughter.

“It is a show packed with jokes and so much heart that everyone in the audience falls utterly in love with her and has a wonderful time.”

She added: “Joe Kent-Walters has created the extraordinary character of Frankie Monroe, which is both a love letter and satirisation of a working man’s club MC.

“His accomplishment is such that it is hard to believe this is Joe’s first Fringe hour.

“Joe draws on a range of skills including pantomime, musical comedy and stand up to bring you into Frankie’s world.”

Nana Hughes, who chairs the judging panel, said: “The Edinburgh Festival Fringe offers artists a space to be bold, original and spontaneous.

“A show can break through and find an audience here.

“Recommendations from strangers in queues for other shows can lead to exciting new discoveries; the phrase ‘have you seen’ being uttered in late-night bars, audiences lining pavements outside venues vying for tickets. This is the true spirit of the fringe.”

The Victoria Wood Award Winner was Rob Copland.