Backstage and personal: the comedy stars of Edinburgh – in pictures

Camilla Cleese backstage at the Gilded Balloon.

The Rubberbandits. These guys may look like terrifying serial killers from a horror movie set in Asda, but they are the nicest people at the festival.

Bridget Christie, reigning Edinburgh comedy award winner backstage at The Stand.

Greg Proops tries really hard to ignore me in the Abattoir bar.

Adam Riches … the exuberant Edinburgh comedy award winner in full armour manfully marches through the Meadows as his Sean Bean character.

Al Murray – and yet again, the drummer becomes the frontman.

Eddie Izzard hosting Comedy Sans Frontieres, where he introduced four European standups who deserve a wider audience.

It is impossible to not take a photo of best newcomer nominee Alex Edelman in Edinburgh, he is everywhere.

Massive Dad annex the festival to bring you socialist sketch comedy of the highest order.

Josie Long in the alleyway behind The Stand after her show.

The very funny, very smart Sara Pascoe just before going on stage for her Edinburgh comedy award-nominated show.

Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson performs with a puppet as part of the ensemble show Bears in Space from the company Collapsing Horse.

Lizzie Roper poses as Julie Burchill in the green room at the Gilded Balloon.

Felicity Ward sporting incredible metallic magenta trousers.

Festival overlord and people’s champion Richard Herring.

Danielle Ward, also known as Dani Frankenstein at the free fringe, who loves standup, storytelling and David Bowie.

Vikki Stone lets audience members pick up an instrument from dozens on stage and join her in an impromptu and uplifting orchestra.

Steen Raskopoulos, nominated for Fosters Edinburgh comedy award newcomer.

Edfringe veteran Susan Calman.

Paul Merton and Suki Webster, the husband and wife improv team who also act opposite each other in Suki’s new play My Obsession.