Nica Burns, the Director of the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards, announced today that Steve Coogan (pictured) will present the prizes this year.

Coogan, who is currently starring in the UK box office hit Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, is familiar with the competition, having won himself back when the competition was titled The Perrier Awards. The comedian was handed the main prize in 1992 for his Gilded Balloon-based show Steve Coogan In Character With John Thomson.

Now in their 33rd year, the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards aim to name future comedy superstars by judging their Edinburgh Fringe shows. Previous winners of the title include a pre-fame Frank Skinner, Lee Evans, The League Of Gentlemen and Al Murray.

This year the panel of judges have seen a record-breaking 600 eligible shows over the course of the festival to work out the shortlist, which will be revealed in public on Wednesday.

This year the prize money for Best Comedy Show is £10,000, with £5,000 each for the Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize winner.

Coogan will announce who has won the Best Show and Best Newcomer prizes alongside the 2012 winner Doctor Brown at a lunchtime ceremony at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh on Saturday (24th August). BCG will bring you the results as soon as they're announced.

Find out more about the awards and the previous winners at www.comedyawards.co.uk