BBC News writes that Lee was chosen for his accidental promotion of Japanese music act Frank Chickens.
After Lee sent an epic email rant to the organisers of the Edinburgh Awards who are asking the public to vote for their ‘Comedy God’, citing people might as well vote for Frank Chickens, people began voting in their droves for the obscure music troupe.
Co-producer of the Malcolm Hardee Awards John Fleming said: ‘We chose Stewart Lee because it is fittingly bizarre that he managed to accidentally promote an act that wasn’t even appearing at this year’s Fringe and then as a result did appear.’
Alongside Lee, Arthur Smith and Manos the Greek are also in with a chance of winning the Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award, named after the English comedian famed for his publicity stunts who died in 2005 after falling into the docks in Rotherhithe, London.
Smith said he would give £100 to any journalist who would juggle fish. To our knowledge, no-one has juggled any fish yet.
Fleming added: ‘Arthur neglected to buy the required kippers, but he still got publicity out of a silly idea: a pre-requisite for getting a cunning stunt nomination.’
Manos the Greek is the third nominee after saying he’d donate 10% of the earnings from his Free Fringe show to rescue the Greek economy.
Manos stood atop Edinburgh’s Calton Hill in a Greek kilt with a giant cheque for the astounding sum of £7.86.
Last year’s winner was Lewis Schaffer who pretended that he had sponsored the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for £99. He managed to convince several publications of the ‘fact’ but he was threatened with legal action and fired by his agent…at least he won an award though!
The Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award will be presented on Friday 27th August at the Three Sisters in the Cowgate, Edinburgh.
Copyright : Comedy Central UK