The five short-listed acts for the Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the biggest comedy prize in the business, were announced yesterday.
One of the short-listed acts, a British comic, Al Murray, was initially deemed ineligible for the prize but was reinstated last week after vigorous protests from his management team. Murray, who has been nominated for the Perrier for the last three years, was informed by the committee that because of his "star" status he would not be considered for this huge prize. This was the same ruling that excluded the Irish comic Ardal O'Hanlon from the prize in 1996.
The Perrier committee says that star status involves the performer being able to sell out a mid-size theatre venue. Murray, however, successfully challenged the ruling and is now on the shortlist, alongside four other acts: the League Against Tedium, Terry Alderton, the Arctic Boosh and Ross Noble.
The overall winner will be announced next Saturday night at midnight. There is still Irish interest this year, with the Dublin comic, Dara O Briain, being considered a front-runner for the Perrier newcomer award which is given annually to performers making their debut on the fringe.