By: Ally Millar

Some of comedy’s biggest names have been shortlisted for the tenth annual Chortle Comedy Awards taking place in London on Monday 7 February, 2011 and hosted by the pub landlord Al Murray.

Australian musical funnyman Tim Minchin leads the shortlist with three nominations for best tour for his Orchestra Tour, best DVD for Ready For This and best music and variety act.

Other nominees include Dara O Briain, Simon Amstell, Michael McIntyre, Stewart Lee, Greg Davies, Russell Kane and Steve Coogan’s return as Alan Partridge. The full shortlist is below – to vote visit www.chortle.co.uk

The shortlists were drawn up by a panel of comedy critics and readers of Chortle can cast their vote before 5pm on Sunday 16 January, 2011 to vote their preferred in act in 11 categories – spanning TV, online, live and newcomer – and their votes will decide the winners.

Al Murray, who will be appearing in aid of Camkids, a charity that helps poor children in Cambodia, said: ‘The British have the greatest sense of humour in the world, everyone knows that, that’s why God gave us Fawlty Towers and not the Germans – they wouldn’t have got it.

‘The Chortle Awards is a chance to celebrate the best and brightest in British comedy and therefore the world.‘

The Chortle Comedy Awards 2011

Best Show

Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words
Des Bishop: My Dad Was Nearly James Bond
Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs At A Dog
Kevin Eldon: Kevin Eldon Is Titting About
Russell Kane: Smokescreens and Castles

Best Tour

Bill Bailey
Dara O Briain
Lee Mack
Tim Minchin

Best Headliner

Andrew Lawrence
Craig Campbell
Milton Jones
Tom Stade

Best Compere

Susan Calman
Jason Cook
Seann Wash
Stephen Grant

Breakthrough Act

The Boy With Tape On His Face
Josh Widdicombe
Nick Helm
Stuart Goldsmith

Best Character or Sketch Act

Adam Riches
Johnny Sweet
Late Night Gimp Fight
Tom Binns as Ian D Montford

Best Music or Variety Act

The Boy With Tape On His Face
Raymond & Mr Timpkins Revue
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Tim Minchin

Best Newcomer

Diane Spencer
Henry Ginsberg
Ian Stirling
Tim Shishodia

Best DVD

Bill Bailey: Dandelion Mind
Simon Amstell: Do Nothing
Stewart Lee: If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One Tim Minchin

Internet Award

Alan Partridge: Mid Morning Matters
Gary Delaney: Gary Delaney’s Twitter feed
The Peacock & Gamble Podcast
Richard Herring: As It Occurs To Me

TV and Radio Award

Getting On
Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow
News Quiz
The Trip