Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2018 judges

The judges for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2018 has been announced.

Nica Burns, Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, has revealed the panel list for the 2018 Awards, now in its 38th year.

As in previous years, the panel consists of seven professionals and three comedy punters representing the public.

This year the panel will be chaired by Stephen Armstrong - Comedy Critic for the Sunday Times.

The panel consists of:

Gayle Anderson - Arts Writer and Herald Comedy Critic

Jane Dempsey - Public Panellist

Joe Gardner - Public Panellist

Morwenna Gordon - Commissioning Editor, Sky Comedy

Richard Morris - Producer, BBC Studios Comedy

Sarah Asante - Assistant Commissioner, BBC Comedy

Saurabh Kakkar - Executive Producer (Comedy), Big Talk Productions

Tashi Radha - Public Panellist

Tristram Fane Saunders - Commissioning Editor/Culture Writer, The Telegraph

Nica Burns says: "Comedy remains the largest genre of entertainment at 35% of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, promising a feast of comedy shows to suit everyone's funny bone. With nearly 700 shows eligible for the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, we look forward to discovering exciting new talent and celebrating outstanding shows from the established comics. A warm welcome to what will be a very hard working judging panel chaired by Stephen Armstrong, Comedy Critic of the Sunday Times.

There will be no changes in regard to the judging or the Awards categories. All shows eligible will be automatically seen. The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 22nd August with the winners announced at a lunchtime ceremony on Saturday 25th August.

The prize money for best comedy show is £10,000 with £5,000 each for the Best Newcomer and the Panel Prize winner.