Wowsers – I haven’t seen such a good competition giveaway since that island caretaker’s job in the Great Barrier Reef! The Times is offering the chance for a member of the public to join the judging panel for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards (formerly the Perrier/if.comedy awards), Britain’s most important prize for live comedy.

Last years Edinburgh Festival winner David O’Doherty with his if.comedy award

The deal is the winner must be available to stay in Edinburgh for two weeks from August 15-30. They will be expected to see six shows a day, feeding back opinions daily. They must attend and contribute to the official panel meetings and the process of finding a winner.  In return, the Edinburgh Comedy Awards will provide  accommodation, travel, show tickets and invitations to the best parties. So let’s recap. You get to go to the Fringe, have everything paid for, laugh all day and your opinion counts towards who wins the highest accolade for live British comedy – previously won by the likes of Dylan Moran, the League of Gentlemen, Frank Skinner and Al Murray. Now, as Comedy Editor of Spoonfed I may be a little bit biased towards this comp but it’s hard to think of many people this wouldn’t appeal to.

Last year’s winning panellist, Alison Leitch, said: “Spending hours in darkened rooms in Edinburgh in pursuit of comedy award-winners is undoubtedly the way to spend August. The sheer variety of acts and quality of shows is astounding, and you attend each show with a real purpose. Spending time with the panel, talking comedy, was an education and a highlight. I thoroughly recommend it.”

Here is how to enter:

1. Visit www.comedyawards.co.uk/competition/ and tellThe Times in about 350 words why you are the best candidate.

2. You must also upload three reviews of your favourite live comedy acts.

3. Entries must reach them by Monday, June 15. If you are shortlisted, you will be required to attend an informal interview in London. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. The winner will be announced in The Times on July 10.

Terms and conditions:

1. Entrants must be 18 or over and resident in the UK.

2. Entrants must be available full time and able to reside in Edinburgh from August 15-30 3. The competition is not open to employees of the Festival Fringe Society or anyone connected professionally with the comedy business.

4. The prize is a position on the Edinburgh Comedy Awards judging panel for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2009. The winner must attend approximately six shows a day and provide reviews for all shows attended.

5. Only one entry per person.

6. The winner will be chosen by the award director Nica Burns and the decision is final.

7. The prize is nontransferable. There will be no cash prize.

8. No responsibility will be taken for entries lost, delayed or incomplete.

9. All costs incurred by the winner other than travel and accommodation are at the winner’s expense.

EM