From Jimmy Carr to Jo Brand Edinburgh Fringe venues pimp their festival breakthroughs

According an article in the Observer, a number of Edinburgh venues, including the Gilded Balloon, the Assembly and the Edinburgh Comedy Awards competition, have been building up their own profiles by using the names of previous stars who they claim they have helped to propel into comedy stardom.

 

Now, a number of the greatest comedians of all time including Frank Skinner, Jo Brand, Jimmy Carr and Bill Bailey and Jo Brand have been asked to decide which venue could be given the gold star for helping them crack the comedy industry.

 

Four comedians in particular; Moran, Vegas, Brand and Carr are being caught in a tussle between the Gilded Balloon and the Edinburgh Comedy Awards organisers over who exactly discovered their talent first.

 

Speaking to the Guardian Tommy Sheppard from the Stand comedy clud said: "It is pretty daft of these venues to claim to have made any of these stars.

 

"All we can do is to give performers space. It is up to them."

 

The debate has highlighted the increasing how the Fringe has increasingly become a commercial vehicle focussed on success rather than enjoying raw talent.

 

The Fringe, which only began last week, has already seen its fair share of controversy, with a number of comedians including Stewart Lee launching a verbal tirade against the annual Edinburgh Comedy Awards organisers for their new 'Comedy God' poll. 

 

Just to add our own name to the ridiculous roster we tipped a certain Michael McIntyre back in 2007,  we'll be along to collect our royalties shortly Michael.