New Talent at the Edinburgh Fringe

Editor's note: Caroline Raphael is the Commissioning Editor for Comedy and Entertainment, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4 Extra. Follow her on Twitter - @CSRaphael1 - for updates and thoughts on this year's festival.

Edinburgh Year 34! I've been going to Edinburgh each August since I was student in 1978. This year as ever I'll be looking for shows to commission for Radio 4 later in the year, comedians and writers to develop series with and new for 2012 brand new comedians for a new show this October, Fresh from the Fringe.

If you are fortunate to be heading north for the Fringe Festival too, - or South or East or West depending on where you live -then you have a chance to see some of the current Radio 4 performers and writers in the flesh.

The Boom Jennies

Loads of Radio 4 names will be there but here are some of the names you might be less familiar with or perhaps were less aware were on Radio 4 or who have literally just been commissioned to appear on the network.

Tim Fitzhigham will be heard on Radio 4 later on this year recreating an astonishing challenge from history. Tim is rather good at setting his own challenges including rowing a paper boat down the entire length of the Thames.

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Tim Fitzhigham: Stop The Pigeon.

If you enjoyed Rory Bremner's Tonight heard recently on Radio 4 (and about to record a Festival special) you will have caught Nick Doody's often blistering contributions.

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Look at This Massive Picture of My Face.

The Boom Jennies are a three woman sketch group . You might have caught them on a recent Sketchorama but you will be hearing more of them on Radio 4 as they have their own comedy show Challenging Jane. Think boys' own adventures for girls!

Can be seen in Edinburgh in The Boom Jennies: Mischief and Catriona Knox: Hellcat.

Thom Tuck

At last year's Festival I was utterly charmed by Thom Tuck's first solo show in which he demonstrated a slightly freaky interest in straight to DVD Disney films! We went onto broadcast that programme and have now commissioned a series from him.

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Thom Tuck Flips Out

Someone else whose 2011 Edinburgh show we broadcast was John Osborne's John Peel's Shed. It was an endearing personal memory of winning a box of John Peel's records. He's taken it back to the Festival this year. And you will hear more of him on Radio 4.

You may not be aware but two of the stars of the blissfully wonderful long running comedy Clare in the Community are Edinburgh and comedy regulars. Nina Conti plays Megan and Sarah Kendall plays Libby. Nina is also one of the best ventriloquists I've ever seen. Not only can she do the whole speaking without moving your lips bit, but the characters she creates for her 'puppets' are so compelling they begin to exist in their own right. The highlight of one of her early shows was Monkey taking over and becoming her. Shiveringly scary! Ventiloquism on radio....? Well, would not be the first time!

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Nina Conti: Dolly Mixtures and Sarah Kendall - Get Up, Stand Up.

Yasmine Khan is one half of Akram and Khan. With another writing and performing partner Aisling Bea she will be broadcasting a not always straightforward retelling of some Irish myths and legends.

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Ford and Akram: Bamp!

Jigsaw are Dan Antopolski, Tom Craine and Natt Luurtsema. The clever thing about Jigsaw is that each tiny sketch is a fragment that piece by piece they build into a chaotic picture of their lives. Their first series will go out on radio 4 next year.

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Jigsaw: Getting Jiggy.

From BBC Radio 4 Extra come Peacock & Gamble - stalwarts of the Radio 4 Extra Comedy Club. Wonder how seriously we are supposed to take the title of their Edinburgh show?

Can be seen in Edinburgh in Peacock & Gamble Don't Even Want to be on Telly Anyway. Who needs to be on telly when you can be on Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra!

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Brochure (or Comedy Catalogue as I call it) is enormous so I may have missed someone. I'll tweet others as I find them and do let me know what you recommend.

• Find out more about the Fringe on the BBC Edinburgh Festival site.
• Get tickets for shows and masterclasses
• Explore our Radio 4 Edinburgh collection