Seven acts have been short- listed for the best comedy act in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards - the most high profile prize of the Fringe season.
It is the longest shortlist for 20 years, and reflects the "year of the stand-up" its organisers said.
The acts were shortlisted from a list of 578 eligible shows and the panel for the 33rd Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards made 1454 individual visits to shows.
The best comedy show short list includes Bridget Christie, Carl Donnelly, James Acaster, Max and Ivan, Mike Wozniak, Nick Helm and Seann Walsh.
The nominations for the best newcomer include Aisling Bea, John Kearns, Liam Williams, Matt Okine and Romesh Ranganathan.
Nica Burns, the founder and producer of the comedy awards said: "After the longest best comedy show shortlist debate in the history of the awards, going to an unprecedented second vote, the list is, for the first time since Lee Evans won in 1993, seven strong.
"In complete contrast to last year, 2013 will be remembered as the year of the stand-up."
The winners will be announced on Saturday at a lunchtime ceremony at Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street.
The winner of the best comedy show gets a £10,000 prize, with £5000 for the best newcomer. A panel prize also comes with a £5000 prize.
Meanwhile, one of the newest but biggest venues at the Fringe has sold more than 30,000 tickets, more than 200% more than in its first festival last year.
Summerhall, inside the rambling former Royal Dick Vet School, has proved to be one of the successes of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with its eclectic mix of theatre, visual art, and children's shows.
l A comedian who caused controversy over his listings in the official Fringe brochure has been elected to the festival's board.
Gareth Morinan took out 11 separate listings in this year's Fringe brochure, to make a point about the costs involved in bringing a show to the festival.
It was announced he has been selected to the Fringe Society's Board of Directors, over Charlie Wood, who runs one of the biggest Fringe venues, Underbelly.
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