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EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARDS: London Hughes is the first black woman to be nominated in the main category

TWO BLACK women have made history by securing nominations at this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

London Hughes and Sophie Duker have both been nominated, making them the first black women to be up for Edinburgh Comedy awards.

Hughes is the first black woman to be nominated in the main category. She has been nominated for best show for her sold out show To Catch a D*ck

Duker has been nominated in the best newcomer category. She has been performing her stand up show Venus at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

On Twitter, Hughes shared her excitement at the announcement and its significance.

She tweeted: “I am the first British black woman in history to be nominated for the main award at the Edinburgh comedy festival...And I did it with a show called TO CATCH A D*ck!!!! I am dead!!!!!! I have died a death!!!!!!”

The comedian also posted a picture of herself and her fellow history-making nominee on Twitter.

She captioned the photo of her and Duker with the words: “I’m crying! My phones going crazy!!! Ahhh but I have to point out!!! That myself and [Sophie Duker] are the first British black women to ever be nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Awards (Sophie for best newcomer and myself for best show) ahh this is a f***ing moment!!!!”

Hughes, who says she wants to be the female Lenny Henry, has recently opened up about the barriers she has faced in the comedy circuit in the UK.

In an interview with The i paper published this week, she said: “I’ve got Kevin Hart’s agent, Beyonce’s lawyer and three development deals.

“And here I can’t even get on 8 Out of 10 Cats.”

Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards, renamed as a result of a partnership with the TV channel, take place at a ceremony on August 24.