Edinburgh Fringe
Colin Hoult wins NextUp's Biggest Award in Comedy
Anna Mann star Colin Hoult has won the Biggest Award in Comedy.
With his first show not in character, Colin, NextUp platform subscribers voted it the best show at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Hoult receives the literal biggest award in comedy, an inflatable trophy standing 202 centimetres tall. He also pockets a £500 cash prize and the option to record his show for the service.
On learning of his win, Colin said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to have been given this award. The NextUp family of viewers are a beautiful bunch of people - many of them came together during the lonely difficult times of the pandemic. I'm incredibly touched that this show has been so well received, particularly as this time I've been on stage as myself rather than as a character. It was such a big step for me to finally tell my own story and I'm so happy it's connected with audiences and made so many people laugh."
Sarah Henley, NextUp co-founder says: "We're over the moon that Colin Hoult has bagged this year's win! Our members and panel clearly know what they're doing, because they've chosen a show that's an absolute masterclass in comedy.
"This is Colin's first time stepping out as himself (without his beloved character Anna Mann (the team did have an end of Fringe cry last year when she died)), and what a show it is - perfectly written and performed - properly funny and with bags full of heart. The standard this year has been ridiculously high, so the fact that Colin came out on top in such a tight race is a real testament to his talent. We couldn't be happier for him!"
The other nominees, announced last week, were Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows; Catherine Bohart: Again, With Feelings; Chris Cantrill: Easily Swayed; Connor Burns: 1994; Dan Tiernan: Stomp; Demi Adejuyigbe Is Going To Do One (1) Backflip; Hannah Platt: Defence Mechanism; Jack Skipper: Skint; Jin Hao Li: Swimming in a Submarine; Joe Kent-Walters is Frankie Monroe: LIVE!!!; John Luke Roberts: John-Luke-A-Palooza!; Kate Cheka: A Messiah Comes; Katie Norris: Farm Fatale; Kemah Bob: Miss Fortunate; Knight, Knight; Marjolein Robertson: O; Mhairi Black: Politics Isn't For Me; Phil Ellis: Come On and Take The Rest of Me; and Tarot: Shuffle.
Colin Hoult: Colin is at Pleasance Courtyard at 8:20pm, 31 Jul; 1-13 & 15-25 August. EdFringe.com