Chris Cantrill won The Audible Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards after being shortlisted on three previous occasions, including a nomination along with his comedy partner Amy Gledhill who won the prize two years ago.
Both Chris and Amy have featured in nominations in the last four years but this year it was Cantrill’s turn with his show Rewinding. This is a “twisted tale” of how life in his tranquil countryside community was disrupted by a heinous act of vandalism.
Winners were announced at the Awards Presentation hosted by 2016 Best Comedy Show winner, Richard Gadd, and 2025 Best Newcomer winner, Ayoade Bamgboye. The event was attended by previous winners and nominees including Amy Gledhill, Hannah Gadsby, Joe Kent-Walters, John Tothill, Molly McGuinness, Abby Wambaugh and Emmanuel Sonubi.
The Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award went to Irish comedian Marty Gleeson for Dog Ear, which is inspired by her time at art school in Limerick. Gleeson is a BBC New Comedy Award and Channel 4’s Sean Lock Awards finalist and was crowned LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2024.
The judges also announced The Audible Panel Prize, which is marking its 20th anniversary this year having been first awarded in 2026 and is given to an act or organisation that best represents the ‘spirit of the Fringe’.
The Audible Panel Prize was awarded to One Joke, an entirely unique experience as 60 comedians tell just one single perfect joke before leaving the stage. Produced by Benjamin Alborough and Ellie BW of Liebenspiel, One Joke is compered by Jonathan Oldfield, headlined by Lorna Rose Treen and includes 60 comedians, all in the name of charity.
Nica Burns CBE, Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, and Emma Brünjes, Executive Director of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said: “In Chris and Marty we have two outstanding winners: both are exceptional comedians, writers and performers who have crafted wonderful shows to win the accolades of Best Comedy Show and Best Newcomer. There is so much talent at the Edinburgh Fringe and comedy is again the largest category this year. With so much talent to choose from, the judges’ debate was knowledgeable, exciting and passionate. Congratulations to Chris and Marty and all the comedians shortlisted – you are all terrific.”
Liz Lewin, Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK and Chair of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2026 panel, said: “It was wonderful to be part of a judging panel and process that gave such careful, thorough and enjoyable consideration to such a range of outstanding comedians, any one of whom would have been a winner to be proud of. In Chris and Marty we see two very different but equally brilliant writers and performers who have both conjured something that only they could have.”
BBC Radio 4 aired a special showcase on Saturday night featuring the nominees for the 2026 Audible Best Comedy Show and the Taffner Family Best Newcomer Award. The showcase is available to catch up on BBC Sounds, bringing highlights of the Fringe to listeners all over the UK.
Edinburgh Comedy Awards
https://www.comedyawards.co.uk
The judges for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2026 were:
- Liz Lewin (Panel Chair): Director of Comedy Series, Netflix UK
- Sasha Bobak: Comedy and Entertainment Producer, BBC Studios
- Sam Bryant: Director of Original Content / Head of Comedy, Audible
- Amar Chauhan: Public Panellist
- Tristram Fane Saunders: Freelance Arts Journalist and Comedy Critic, The Telegraph
- Isabelle Jackson: Public Panellist
- Dominic Maxwell: Comedy and Theatre Critic for The Times and The Sunday Times
- Louise Robb: Public Panellist
- Anya Ryan: Comedy and Theatre Critic at The Guardian, The Times, TimeOut, The Stage
- Darren Smith: Creative Director, DLT Entertainment
