A boycott has been called against the Perrier Comedy Awards of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, led by high profile stars including Julie Christie, Victoria Wood and Emma Thompson.

The Perrier Award, now in its 20th year, is UK's premier comedy award. It is given for the most outstanding up-and-coming stand-up comedy or comedy cabaret at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and its winners have often moved on to high-profile careers in theatre and television.

The boycott has been initiated due to Perrier's link with Nestle, the multi-national food corporation. Nestle has been criticized over its sales of powdered baby milk in third world countries, which is why the Baby Milk Action Campaign, with the support of a number of celebrities, are planning to picket the awards ceremony on Aug. 25. Meanwhile the charity-run Bongo Club, a Fringe venue, has announced that it will launch a rival Tap Water Awards.

Defending Perrier Nica Burns, one of the organizers of the Perrier Awards said: "It's all very well for these major stars. People have either forgotten or don't know exactly what Edinburgh can do for performers."

—by Theatrenow