John Bishop up for Edinburgh comedy award

Our own, yes our very own John Bishop has been nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award.

The Carra-alike's latest one man show, Elvis has Left the Building - which he has been performing all month at the city's Pleasance Courtyard - impressed judges at the festival, who have shortlisted the Bootle comic alongside Russell Kane, Tim Key, Tom Wrigglesworth, John Richardson, and sketch troup Idiots of Ants.

The awards, which have previously been better known by the names of their past sponsors Perrier and if.com, have helped talent including Frank Skinner, Al Murray and Dylan Moran make a major breakthrough in their careers.

Producer Nica Burns, who has funded them this year, said: "The shortlist of six shows reflects an outstanding year of highly creative, original comedy performance dominated by stand-up."

It is the latest highlight in an incredibly succesful year for Bishop, who before Edinburgh was seen in his first acting roles, on the stage of the Royal Court in One Night in Istanbul, and on screen in teen drama Skins.

He recently revealed that after his Edinburgh run he will be filming a role "a long way from comedy" as a soldier in Iraq.

Bishop stands to win £8,000 and the chance to perform at a number of international comedy festivals. The winner will be announced on Saturday.

The Guardian's Paul MacInnes, one of the judges, said: "He's a dad, he's got kids, he sometimes puts the wrong fuel in his saloon car. It's the sort of stuff I would normally run a mile from. But such is Bishop's ability to deliver laughs, one after the other after the other, and so beguiling is his personality, that not only did I spend half my time in stitches, I left wishing more comedy could be like this."

Praise indeed. Good luck John!