Perrier have announced their decision to stop sponsoring the comedy
awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.
It is an end to the 25-year association of the two where a Perrier Award has
become one of the highest accolades to attain within the comedy industry.
Previous winners include the Cambridge Footlights (including Stephen Fry,
Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson) in the first year, 1981.
Then, also, Jeremy Hardy (1988), Sean Hughes (1990), Frank Skinner (1991),
Steve Coogan (1992 & Harry Hill as Best Newcomer), Lee Evans (1993), Dylan
Moran (1996), Laura Solon, unbeknownst to herself, took the last one (2005). And
of course a whole host of others between those years AND the Newcomer
awards.
The new sponsors are the Scottish banking firm, Intelligent Finance who have
named the new awards the if.comeddies.
Just rolls off the tongue, that one.
