Top award for comic tackling emotional issues
A SCOTS performer has told of his joy after winning the main prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
Richard Gadd, from Fife, won the Best Comedy Show 2016 for his piece titled Monkey See Monkey Do.
He is the first Scottish performer to be nominated for the award in 23 years, and takes home £10,000.
In the free show, which was based at the Banshee Labyrinth venue, Mr Gadd performed on a treadmill while discussing masculinity and sexuality.
He also drew on experiences of sexual assault.
The 26-year-old beat off competition from seven other nominees, including James Acaster, Nish Kumar and Zoe Coombs Marr.
Mr Gadd was visibly emotional as he accepted the award at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh.
He said: “The darkness I was in, I cannot tell you how bad it got.
“The worst thing getting abused ever did was take my confidence away from me and I feel like this is some way going to get it back.”
Mr Gadd was presented with the award by 2015 winner Sam Simmons.
Glasgow-born Scott Gibson was announced as the best newcomer for his show Life After Death, picking up an award of £5,000.
The 2016 panel prize award, also worth £5,000, went to Iraq Out & Loud: Reading the Chilcot Report in Full, which saw the report read aloud in its entirety.