Lou Sanders to host Comedy Poster Awards

Lou Sanders has been announced as the host of the 2018 Comedy Poster Awards.

The awards aim to celebrate the best artwork at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and are sponsored this year by Beer52 and Stannp.

Organisers say: "With hundreds of acts and hundreds of thousands of potential customers coming to the Fringe, having a strong, funny, informative, or entertaining poster has become a vital marketing tactic for comedians to get bums on seats."

First taking place in 2014, the competition was established by TV and live comedy producer Gina Lyons to celebrate the most popular and loved poster artwork at the Fringe: from the idea, to the photo, to the finished artwork.

The awards include two prizes: one decided upon by a panel of industry judges, and the other by a popular audience vote. This year the vote has been sponsored by local Edinburgh company, "craft beer discovery club" Beer52.

Browse and vote for your favourite 2018 posters

Sanders took home the Panel Prize in 2016, the last time the Comedy Poster Awards took place.

The winners of each title will be announced during an exclusive ceremony in Gilded Balloon Teviot at 11:45pm this Sunday, to which all nominees are invited.

Each winner will take home a £500 cash prize.

Sanders says: "I'm thrilled to be hosting the 2018 Comedy Poster Awards with Beer52 and Stannp. Back in 2016 with Sam Simmons hosting, he announced that I had won whilst I had pulled a guy who was kindly treating me to falafel - so this time, with me hosting, I will do my best to stay on the stage for the entire show and not run off with any fitty who offers a midnight savoury snack."

The judges for 2018 are Chris Curley, Head of Development, Comedy Central UK; Nerys Evans, Creative Director of Comedy, Expectation Entertainment; Alice Jones, Arts Editor, i newspaper; and producer Rupert Majendie.

Voters can claim free beer from Beer52.