[Oops. Mucked that up. Anyway...]

The nominations will probably be out by the time the first reply is added to this thread but here's my guesses (based on a little insider knowledge) for the Perrier this year:

Garth Marenghi's Netherhead
Noble and Silver
Ross Noble
Catherine Tate
Daniel Kitson

Best Newcomer is really wide open. And Herring really should be nominated in both categories (after all it's his first solo show that isn't a play) -- quite the best show I've seen this festival.

Whaddya reckon?

Or if the nominations are out, who's gonna win?

johnny vegas should win everything, regardless of whether he is elligible. and if he wins nothing, they should make a new award and give it to him

Herring for best newcomer? You must be fucking joking.

Kitson for Best Newcomer

Adam Hills
Garth Marenghi
Ross Noble

Personally , I think the field is pretty thin this year - be interesting to see who they pick

here's the list
dan antopolski
daniel kitson
garth marenghi
adam hills
jason byrne

all well deserved - congrats to them all.
well, let the fizzy water fly!
and by the way - they're all at the pleasance...

I jokingly suggested to Nika Burns that I should be eligible for best newcomer (my first solo show indeed)
Apparently the Perrier committee spent 15 minutes discussing it.
I see that as my part in the anti-Nestle campaign for so blatantly having wasted everyone's time. (kind of a joke. Don't get mad)

I think the shortlist is pretty good. Certainly a couple of my favourites in there. But once again I am struck by the gloom that descends on all comics after nomination (even those nominated sometimes) because once again the feeling can't be avoided that all the other shows have somehow failed. That they are somehow inferior.
It really is a very negative force on the fringe (with or without Nestle) though obviously important for those who get the nod (does affect careers - at the very least is used as a must see list by lazy TV execs)

And it galls me that there are people up here doing great shows that never get "discovered". Paul Putner, Trevor Lock and Ben Moor spring to mind. (though I am sure there are others that I haven't worked with)

Simon JPEG

I really hoped this thread was going to turn into an Abbott and Costello sketch.

Well as all you comedy whores head into the party on Saturday you can wave at me as I will be one of the demonstrators outside.

Never thought the day would come when my principles got in the way of an offer of free booze

We'll try to smuggle some out for you on the night then.

I'm only going to drink powdered milk that night.
I don't know what point I'll be making