Perrier shortlist breaks all-white tradition but snubs female performers

The apparent dominance of white male stand-up comedians at the Edinburgh festival was challenged yesterday when the Perrier Comedy Awards shortlist included the first nomination for a performer from an ethnic minority.

The observations of the Anglo-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili, 36, about the events of 11 September secured him a place on the six-strong shortlist for a prize that has launched the careers of performers such as Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan and the League of Gentlemen.

The all-male shortlist follows an all-male shortlist for last year's prize. The prize has produced no black winners and just one woman winner in its 22-year history – Jenny Eclair, seven years ago.

Nica Burns, the long-standing director of the awards, said she thought it was the first time a show by a performer from an ethnic minority had been shortlisted. Although she repeated her personal regret at the continued failure of women to be recognised, she said nobody wanted "tokenism".

It seemed many women did not fancy the aggressive world of the comedy clubs and were pursuing their comedy elsewhere, she added. The shortlisted shows were what the judging panel thought were best, she said. The shortlist includes two of the 2001 nominees: 25-year-old Daniel Kitson, who was hailed as a comedy genius when he made his debut at Edinburgh last year; and Adam Hills, 32, from Australia, whose prosthetic foot provides the source of much of his humour.

The other three nominees for the Perrier title are Phil Nichol, 37, a Canadian comic, Jimmy Carr and Noel Fielding, who are both English and 29.

It is Carr's first solo show in Edinburgh, but he was regarded as so good that, like Kitson last year, he has leapfrogged straight from the separate newcomer's prize into the main awards arena.

The judging panel of comedy critics, television executives and members of the public have spent the past three weeks attending hundreds of shows and will now revisit all the shortlisted performers.

The winner, who will be announced at midnight on Saturday, receives a cheque for £7,500 and a massive boost to his career. This year, he will be also offered a chance to visit Africa with Comic Relief.

The offer follows criticisms of Perrier's parent company, Nestlé, by protesters who object to its sales of infant formula milk in Africa. The visit is independent of Nestlé and will enable the winner to see the situation for himself.

Ms Burns said: "When [this issue] turned up last year we were all a bit bemused but since the research I've done in the last year I've got no problems with Nestlé's operation. They have listened to everybody and cleaned up their act."

Turning to the subject matter of the comedy, Ms Burns said the attacks of 11 September had been a major theme. "The question had been whether it was something we were ready to laugh at yet, but the comedians have been very brave," she said.

"Omid Djalili and Adam Hills deal with it extensively. Omid, as the only Arab stand-up, or the most senior one in this country, was almost bound to have to. And Adam had a rather extraordinary experience when he was on a plane and someone stood up and said, 'There's a bomb, you're going to die.' It was an Algerian who didn't want to be deported."

Christopher Richardson, director of Edinburgh's Pleasance venue, which is showing five of the six shortlisted artists, said: "It's been a very good year for comedy."

Stand up and be counted ­ nerds, fogies and the downright strange

Adam Hills: Happy Feet

This genial Australian crowd-puller was nominated for his show last year. The main subjects of his new show are the experiences of growing up with a prosthetic foot. Not exactly cutting edge, the critics said. 7-4 joint favourite

Daniel Kitson: Something

Kitson has ditched the bushy hair and beard since last year's Perrier-nominated Fringe debut, but remains the über-nerd with a sting in his tale. Critics regard him as a "preternaturally gifted" comic genius. 7-4 joint favourite

Omid Djalili: Behind Enemy Lines

An Anglo-Iranian stand-up, who has a sideline in "small, fat Arab parts" in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Mummy and Gladiator. Discusses 11 September and racial stereotyping. "You'll find none more intelligent, open-hearted or downright funny," said one critic. 13-2

Jimmy Carr: Bare-Faced Ambition

This young fogey figure brings his first solo show to Edinburgh. The deadpan comic is familiar from Channel 4's defunct 11O'Clock Show. 16-1

Phil Nichol; Things I Like, I Lick

Hugely energetic Canadian with a penchant for licking members of the audience. In this year's show, Nichol collaborates with a performance artist. 20-1

Noel Fielding: Voodoo Hedgehog

Formerly one half of the Perrier-nominated Mighty Boosh, this whimsical performer creates a surreal world inhabited by men with antlers and trilby-wearing wolves. Described by one critic as having "an enticingly theatrical edge and a taste for the macabre". 8-1