CityLife

Manc-based Bishop up for Edinburgh gong

FRINGE BENEFITS: Bishop

THE shortlist for the top comic award at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has been announced and there's good news for one local resident.

As adopted Manc, Scouser John Bishop, has made the cut following rave reviews for his Elvis Has Left The Building show.

Five stand-up performers and a comedy sketch group are in line for the prestigious award previously won by the likes of Steve Coogan and Frank Skinner.

Judges sat through hundreds of shows to also select Tom Wrigglesworth, Tim Key, Russell Kane, the four-piece Idiots of Ants and Lancaster-born Jon Richardson.

Those up for best newcomer are Carl Donnelly, Jack Whitehall, Jonny Sweet, Kevin Bridges and Pete Johansson.

The winners of will be announced on Saturday.

Formerly known as the Perriers and most recently as the if.comedies, the awards are without a sponsor for the first time this year - the 29th time they have been held.