Did you hear the one about the Edinburgh comedy prize?

There was an Englishman, an Irishman, a Welshman and a couple of Americans on the shortlist for the Edinburgh Fringe's top comedy award announced today.

Previous nominees David O'Doherty, a 33-year-old Dubliner, and Russell Kane, now the face of digital TV channel Five US, have another chance of glory in the if.comedy awards - formerly the Perriers.

They are joined on the shortlist by Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler from America and Rhod Gilbert, 40, a former market researcher who has won fame on shows such as Mock The Week.

The nominees were chosen by a panel including Bruce Dessau, the Evening Standard's comedy critic, and Karen Rosie, producer of BBC TV comedy, from more than 350 comedy shows on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

All the shows will now be viewed again before the £8,000 award, sponsored by Intelligent Finance, is announced on Saturday.

Also announced were nominees for the Intelligent Finance best newcomer - Mike Wozniak, Pippa Evans and Other Lonely People and Sarah Millican's Not Nice.