Sutton: Romesh Ranganathan, Sarah Millican and Rhod Gilbert among stars joining Takeover Radio for Edinburgh Fringe Awards
Romesh Ranganathan, Sarah Millican, Rhod Gilbert and James Corden are among the top comedians joining Sutton’s Takeover Radio 106.9FM in sponsoring the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards this year.
The ISH awards, whose initials stand for 'insert sponsor here', were set up in 2023 by the comedian Nathan Cassidy as a volunteer-run alternative to the long-established Edinburgh Comedy Awards at a time when that prize looked at risk of losing its sponsorship.
Nathan said: 'I am incredibly happy to have so many top names backing the ISH this year, it means the world
“As with all the backers, it's the fuel that keeps me and the team going.
"These awards have tapped into something many in comedy already feel, namely that there is huge talent across the piece that isn't being fairly rewarded – financially, critically, or structurally.”
For the second year running the station will be running the Takeover Radio 106.9FM/ISH Joke of the Fringe Award, which was won last year by Jo Caulfield.
Local volunteer Nick Mellors, who will be broadcasting shows from Edinburgh during festival, said: “It’s brilliant to see Takeover Radio sharing the stage with some of the top names in British comedy for these awards.
"It goes to prove that people like us, from communities like ours can take part in the world’s greatest arts festival.
"And it shows Ashfield taking its place as a creative hub in the East Midlands.”
The station will be broadcasting a special Edinburgh preview show in the run up to the festival as well as weekly shows from Edinburgh throughout August.
The station broadcasts on 106.9FM across the Ashfield area and also online at takeoverradiosutton.com