Comedy super-brand Chortle have announced the nominations for their annual Chortle Comedy Awards.

We like to think of Chortle as a friendly adversary in the world of comedy: the kind of guys you could have a beer or an arm wrestle with, but not a funny tickle.

It’s a pretty long list of nominations, which made our eyes go a bit funny when we were reading through them but some handy highlights to direct your attention to are…

Funny-man Adam Riches leads the shortlist with noms in three categories: Breathrough Act, Character or Sketch Act, and Best Show.

He picked up the prestigious Best Show title at the last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Where we drank on an empty stomach, got a little bit ‘out of control’ and had to go home early. OK, was asked to go home early.

In other comedy award-related news, some journos, OK, The Guardian are bemoaning the fact that the noms are a bit gentlemen-heavy with only two solo female comics shortlisted - Dana Alexander and Susan Calman – and that neither of them are Sarah Millican or Miranda Hart.

Anyway, the shortlists are decided on by a panel of journos with winners decided by you who have a public vote.

And it’ll be Mr Alexei Sayle who’ll be hosting the ceremony itself on 20th March. Remind us to have something to eat first.

Best Newcomer

Mark Cooper-Jones

Mark Stephenson

Matt Rees

Patrick Cahill

Breakthrough Act

Adam Riches

Humphrey Ker

Sam Simmons

Tony Law

Club Comic

Adam Bloom

Alun Cochrane

Dana Alexander

Hal Cruttenden

Michael Fabbri

Compère

Jimmy McGhie

Ray Peacock

Toby Hadoke

Susan Calman

Character or Sketch Act

Adam Riches

Beta Males

Humphrey Ker

Idiots Of Ants

Variety and Music

Kunt & The Gang

La Soiree

New Art Club

The Rubberbandits

Best Show

Bring Me The Head Of Adam Riches

Doug Stanhope

Tim Key

Sam Simmons: Meanwhile

Best Tour

Dave Gorman's Powerpoint Presentation

Dylan Moran: Yeah, Yeah

Jerry Seinfeld's European tour

Mark Thomas: Walking The Wall

Stephen Merchant: Hello Ladies

Television

Charlie Brooker

Fresh Meat

Sorry, I've Got No Head

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

Radio

Danny Baker

The Infinite Monkey Cage

John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Party

Internet

Business Mouse (Channel 4's Comedy Blaps)

Do The Right Thing (The British Comedy Guide)

The Fast Show (Foster's)

Richard Herring

Stand-Up DVD

Dylan Moran: Yeah, Yeah

Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Series Two

Tim Minchin And The Heritage Orchestra Live At The Albert Hall

Innovation

Sanderson Jones for comedysale.com

Set List

Simon Munnery for La Concepta

The Wrestling

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