Brighton stand-up comic Jo Neary has been nominated for a coveted Perrier Comedy Award for her one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Jo, from Seven Dials, is in the running for Best Newcomer for Jo Neary Is Not Feeling Herself.

In her debut solo Edinburgh show at the Smirnoff Underbelly, Jo takes the audience through a range of characters and musical excerpts.

Jo, 32, was born in Coventry and lived in Cornwall before moving to Brighton and has performed at Komedia since 1999.

She said: "I was so excited when I heard the news. It's wonderful. It has been quite hard work up here but it has been really exciting meeting so many people. My venue is like a damp, hot, dusty, dirty cellar and we're all coming down with horrible strange infections but I think that's all part of the Edinburgh Fringe."

She said she had not had time to see the other acts nominated, adding: "There are 72 acts in my venue alone and more than 500 venues."

Jo studied performing arts at Brighton University and moved naturally towards comedy. She said: "I thought I'd try it on my own because then if it goes wrong there's no one else to blame you and if it goes well I get all the acclaim."

Komedia Entertainment, sister company of Komedia, backed Jo's Edinburgh show after watching it develop.

Director Richard Daws said: "Jo's show is unique because she is not just another stand-up.

"We have watched her show develop over the years as she has put it together during performances, which is why we have so much faith in her."

The show continues until Sunday. Jo will soon be seen on Channel 4's Last Chancers, a comedy drama series.