How do you fancy sitting in darkened rooms for six hours a day while strangers try to make you laugh? If you love comedy in all its forms, from student wags to the circuit's slickest gagsmiths, here's the chance to have the time of your life and to change some performers' lives while you are at it.

The Times and Intelligent Finance are offering you the chance to join the judging panel for the Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards, Britain's most important prize for comedy (formerly known as the Perrier Award). You will be deciding the most outstanding original comedy act at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The winners and the nominees go on to showcase their work at the if.comedy Award Shows in the West End of London.

The Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards are among the few awards in which fresh talent can go from zero to hero in a matter of days. Past winners include Dylan Moran, the League of Gentlemen, Frank Skinner, Jenny Eclair and Al Murray.

Last year's winner, Brendon Burns, has been touring his award-winning show So I Suppose This is Offensive Now around the UK and is recording the final performance for DVD at the Duchess Theatre on June 1 (box-office: 0844 4124659). Tom Basden won Best Newcomer.

Kate Bassett, a previous winner of the Times competition, says of her Edinburgh experience: “It was brilliant. I saw 50 shows, which is heaven for a comedy lover.”

Last year's winner, James Parker, says: “To go from being a punter to being in a position to help to decide the most important awards in comedy is an incredible opportunity.”

So show us your credentials. We are looking for real punters who know and care about comedy.

The winner must be available to stay in Edinburgh for two weeks from August 9 to 24. You will be expected to see six shows a day, feeding back your opinions daily. You will attend and contribute to the official panel meetings and the process of finding a winner.

In return, the Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards will provide you with accommodation, travel, show tickets and even invitations to the best parties.

HOW TO ENTER

1 Tell us in about 350 words why you are the best candidate.

2 Write three reviews of your favourite live comedy acts.

3 Entries must reach us by June 2. If you are shortlisted, you will be required to attend an informal interview in London. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. Entries to panellist@ifcomedy.com, or if.comedy Panellist, 1 Lumley Court, Off 402 Strand, London WC2R 0NB

4 The winner will be announced in The Times on June 27

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1 Entrants must be 18 or over, resident in the UK, be available full time and able to reside in Edinburgh from August 9-24. Only one entry per person.

2 The competition is not open to employees of the Festival Fringe Society or anyone connected professionally with the comedy business.

3 The prize is a position on the Intelligent Finance Comedy Awards judging panel for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2008. The winner must attend approximately six shows a day and provide reviews for all shows attended.

4 The winner will be chosen by the award director Nica Burns and the decision is final. The prize is non- transferable. There will be no cash prize.

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

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

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