BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Perrier fizzes with female comic (original) (raw)

Sarah Kendall is a London-based Australian comedian

Comedian Sarah Kendall has become the first female stand-up to be shortlisted for the Perrier Award for nine years.

Kendall, who has just returned from sell-out runs in New York, Melbourne and Berlin, is on a shortlist of five.

Chris Addison, Reginald D Hunter and acts Epitaph - She's Dead - Move On! and Jackson's Way are also in the running for the prestigious trophy.

It offers a �7,500 prize to a comedy cabaret act or stand-up comedian at the annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

The winner is announced on Saturday night at midnight.

Kendall's show about social awkwardness has had mixed reviews - the Guardian said her performance was "likeable but unadventurous" - but word-of-mouth reports have been good.

	RECENT PERRIER WINNERS 2003 - Demetri Martin 2002 - Daniel Kitson 2001 - Garth Marenghi 2000 - Rich Hall 1999 - Al Murray

The last woman to be nominated, Jenny Eclair, won the award in 1995.

Reginald D Hunter was nominated last year - The Guardian described his new show, A Mystery Wrapped in a Nigga, as: "Pure gold... the perfect set".

Mr Hunter was the first black Perrier Award nominee.

Chris Addison's show Civilization has received rave press reviews and takes a humorous trawl through the history of western civilisation.

Ethan Sandler and Adrian Wenner's Epitaph was described by The Stage as "an hour-long tirade of remorse, angst and unrequited lust" and has already won best sketch at the US Comedy Arts Festival.

Jenny Eclair was the only solo female winner, in 1995

Jackson's Way is based on the advice of an international life coach who offers to solve all your problems.

An Egyptian-American comic has become the first person to win a new award for comedians from ethnic minorities.

Ahmed Ahmed beat three British finalists to take the �1,000 Richard Pryor Award.

Mr Pryor, an American stand-up, established the award to promote diversity at the Fringe but it has attracted criticism from some comedians.

There were four nominations for the Perrier best newcomer - Alun Cochrane, Will Hodgson, Joanna Neary and Sabotage: In Fine Form.

A judging panel of 10 - including seven professionals and three members of the public - decide the shortlists and eventual winners.

Each judge has to see every nominated show between Wednesday and Sunday.