Adam Riches was on Saturday crowned the 31st winner of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards after being praised by judges for his "trademark mix of character comedy, anarchic stagecraft and a fearless level of audience engagement".
The comedian, whose show invites his audience to play swingball and impersonate Daniel Day-Lewis, outshone joint favourite Nick Helm and four other nominated acts to gain the award. Previous winners include Lee Evans and Steve Coogan.
Receiving the prize from veteran standup Omid Djalili, Riches said: "Today I was just a bundle of nerves. But to get it was fantastic and overwhelming."
Best known before this year's fringe for slipping on a yoghurt and breaking his leg onstage during his 2008 show Alpha Males, Riches has taken five previous solo sets to the festival.
The Best Newcomer prize went to Humphrey Ker for his Dymock Watson: Nazi Smasher, and the Panel Prize was awarded to The Wrestling at Pleasance Courtyard.
Nica Burns, producer of the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards, said: "Congratulations to Adam Riches, who is utterly original, extremely funny and a huge talent. He will no doubt be seen on your television screens in the near future.
