Laugh it up, funny guys

Parties

The If.comedy Awards - formerly the Perrier Prize - boosts one comedian's career immeasurably and gives all the others a terrible hangover. Basically, it's a posh wrap party for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, at the Jam House. The party started at 11.30pm, and soon filled up with scrawny stand-ups, suited directors, booted producers, random crumpets (Abi Titmuss) and no less than three different comedians wearing "quirky" bowler hats.

Christian Slater appeared in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' at 2004's festival, and returned to present the prize. (an Iffie? An Eddie? No one's quite sure what to call it yet.) "I felt so much love from this city, thank you!" Slater roared, before announcing the winner: "Brendon Fucken Burns!" The Australian stand-up, who usually goes without the expletive, bounced out on to the stage and immediately phoned his mother. He might not have been a particularly popular choice (the crowd didn't exactly go wild), but he certainly is a good son.

As guests such as Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker headed out of the door to the TV festival, and Simon Amstell arrived with chums, waiters distributed supper: little pots of noodles and Oriental snacks. "Where did you get that prawn cracker?" I asked comedy actor Ed Weeks. "I've got contacts," he deadpanned.

There were two MPs in the crowd: one bona fide (James Purnell, the newly-appointed minister for Culture, Media and Sport) and one from 'The Thick of It' (Justin Edwards, who plays junior minister Ben Swain). Only one of them ended up on the dance floor, though. And what a sight: the tall, bulky Justin Edwards, twirling with his tiny girlfriend, stand-up comedian, Lucy Porter. Edinburgh's favourite couple, without a doubt. Tom Basden, winner of the If.comedy Newcomer prize, celebrated with some ironic breakdancing, while Bourbon and Champagne flowed till 3am. Rarely do Fringe hoofers have such a good time, courtesy of mortgage lenders. (If.com stands for Intelligent Finance.) Even the paltry goodie bag -water and some jelly beans - went down well with one comedian. "It's everything you need to grow a magic beanstalk." And to climb it home to bed.

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