Theatre News

John Kearns wins Edinburgh Comedy Award

Kearns follows up his Best Newcomer prize last year

John Kearns

Absurdist comic John Kearns has won this year's Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award, scooping the £10,000 prize.

Kearns, who won Best Newcomer last year, came top of a list including three-time nominee James Acaster, Alex Horne and Sara Pascoe.

Also on the shortlist were Sam Simmons, Liam Williams and Romesh Ranganathan.

Best Newcomer was named as 25 year-old Alex Adelman, who takes home £5,000, as does Phil Ellis for his show Funz and Gamez, which won the discretionary panel prize.

The prestigious awards, which are now in their 34th year, have previously seen winners including Frank Skinner, The League of Gentlemen, Lee Evans, Daniel Kitson and, more recently, Tim Key, Adam Riches and Bridget Christie.

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