The nominations for this year's Perrier Award for Comedy have been announced, and very international they are too!  Only one Briton, Howard Read, made the shortlist alongside two US standups, one Australian, and a musical double-act from New Zealand. 

And the nominations are...

Flight Of The Conchords - High on Folk
Described as "New Zealand's foremost digi-bongo-acappella-rap-influenced guitar-based bongo-funk folk band".  Need we say more?

Adam Hills - Cut Loose
The biggest name on the list, Australian comic Adam Hills has been pipped to the Perrier post twice before and is probably hoping for "third time lucky" this year.

Reginald D Hunter
Easy going American stand-up who has become the first ever black Perrier nominee.  Racial themes feature strongly in his act but, as The Guardian said, "...without using a jackhammer."

Demetri Martin - If I
New Yorker Martin has already won a similar award at a US comedy festival this year and his show has been somewhat of a sensation at this years Fringe with him being almost completely unknown over here before hand.

Howard Read and Little Howard
The only Brit nominated, Read is a lone techie in a sea of foreigners.  Little Howard is a computer generated 6 year old on a big screen and controlled by Big Howard.  The Daily Telegraph called it a "technically brilliant and exceptionally charming double act".

The winner will be announced at midnight on Saturday along with the winner of the Perrier Best Newcomer award.  This year, for the first time, these nominations have also been announced, and they are:

Alex Horne - Making Fish Laugh
Miles Jupp - Gentlemen Prefer Brogues
Gary Le Strange - Polaroid Suitcase
Michael McIntyre

The awards will be presented by 1997 Perrier Award winners, The League Of Gentlemen.