BCG Daily Wednesday 3rd August 2022

Susie McCabe offering up Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022 show 'full of hope'

Susie McCabe is trying to be positive. After nearly two years of Covid lockdowns followed by a cost of living crisis, the Scottish comedian has promised her audiences they'll leave her new show "feeling great and full of hope".

Jeremy Kyle awkwardly interrupts Bill Bailey's touching Sean Lock tribute

Time delay made the interruption even harder to watch.

Longest-running venue operator says he has 'lost confidence' in the Fringe Society

The founder of the longest-running venue operator at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, William Burdett-Coutts from the Assembly, says he has "lost confidence" in the body overseeing the event ahead of its first full-scale season for three years.

Edinburgh smells sweet for Vir Das

Vir Das' first trip to the Fringe was permeated by the stench of sewage, but when he returns this year he'll be smelling of roses.

Three character comedy shows

Three character comedy shows at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three love stories

Three love stories at Edinburgh Festival 2022.

Three shows about ageing concerns

Three shows about ageing concerns at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three interesting comedy themes

Three interesting comedy themes at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows about life experiences

Three shows about life experiences at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three musical comedy shows

Three musical comedy shows at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows with a mental health focus

Three shows with a mental health focus at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three sporty stories

Three sporty stories at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows about neurodiversity

Three shows about neurodiversity at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows telling women's stories

Three shows telling women's stories at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three remodelled classics

Three remodelled classics at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three migrant stories

Three migrant stories at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows with something different

Three shows with something different at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows about sons + fathers

Three show about father and sons at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three tried + tested shows

Three tried and tested shows at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three alternative Shakespeare shows

Three alternative Shakespeare shows at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three improv shows

Three improv shows at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three woman only comedy

Three women only comedy shows at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows with something supernatural

Three shows with something supernatural at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Three shows about climate change concerns

Three shows about climate change concerns at Edinburgh Festival 2022...

Luisa Omielan at Soho Theatre: It's a mystery why this lively comic isn't a household name

This Greatest Hits-style set features plenty of punchy routines.

EdFringe talk: Aidan Sadler: Tropicana

"Keep an eye out for performers out on the street without huge gimmicks, big casts. Those are usually the hidden gems of the Fringe."

Interview with The Fremonts

"If you want to feel better about your own dysfunctional romantic relationship, this might be the show for you! We have been married for ten years and have the therapy bills to prove it."

Interview with singer-storyteller Gecko

"Being a part of a festival that is so sprawling and has such variety is an inspiring thing. Also, the ups and downs of it forge a bond with your fellow performers like no other."

Interview with comedian, writer and mental health advocate Harriet Dyer

"There's been a three-year creative backlog within my loins which I can't wait to release. That sounds more sinister than enticing, doesn't it?"

Interview with Flo & Joan, multi-award winning musical comedy duo

"We speak to comedy music act Flo & Joan, consisting of sisters Rosie and Nicola, all about their show Sweet Release heading to Edinburgh Fringe."

Interview with Dave Chawner, comedian and mental health campaigner

We speak to Dave Chawner about his two solo shows, Underdog and Mental, heading off to Edinburgh Fringe.

Chloe Petts: Simply by existing, Lou Sanders makes me laugh

Chloe Petts picks her comedy favourites.

Fringe Q&A: Comedian Aurie Styla on how his attitude towards the festival changed

Aurie Styla has been in comedy for over a decade but has always resisted taking a show to the Edinburgh Fringe.

EdFringe talk: Self Service

"My approach was to flick through the brochure, pause on any image that caught my eye, read the blurb and if it hooked me, I'd see it - a lucky dip."

EdFringe talk: Nick Everritt: Quiet

"I'm a big fan of the Fringe. I love the hustle, and indeed the bustle. It's one great big orgy of arts."

EdFringe talk: Tom Mayhew: Trash Rich

"I have learned that I only need to eat a medium Domino's Pizza, and that ordering a large one is capitalism tricking me. But that doesn't stop me from occasionally ordering a large one, like a fool."

EdFringe talk: Will Tell and the Big Bad Baron

"As a promoter, you come because Edinburgh is the greatest showcase of live entertainment in the world and it has always been essential to be here for your work to be seen."

Liz Kingsman on her hit One-Woman Show

The comedian's sell-out show marked her out as one of 2022's brightest stars. As she takes it to the Edinburgh Fringe, she talks about success, self-promotion and sending up messy women.

Frankie Boyle: The most pretentious edgelord

He encourages the potentially offended to feel they are the problem while holding out the promise that if they are good and say nothing, no one will notice that the taint is inside them.

Emergency Question: Have you ever been in the proximity of one of your heroes and been too shy to say anything to them?

Edinburgh Fringe comedians answer.

Interview: Garry Starr on Greek Mythology

Damien Warren-Smith talks about Garry Starr's latest odyssey into Greek myths.

Fringe Q&A: Catherine Bohart on experiencing a togetherness with her audience

Irish comic Catherine Bohart brings her third solo hour to the Fringe following her UK and Ireland tour.

Tom Mayhew: Trash Rich interview

I arranged a chat with Tom, to find out more about the show and about the comedian himself.

Ian Cognito: A Life And A Death On Stage review

No documentary could ever do justice to the force of nature that was Ian Cognito in his terrifying, thrilling fury. But it is also important that this film, Ian Cognito: A Life And A Death On Stage, has been made about him, to help ensure he is remembered not just for his death on stage, which so captured the public imagination, but for his many remarkable and powerful performances upon it.

11 returning Fringe shows recommended by Scotsman critics

Looking for a safe bet? Check out these shows that already hit the mark at the Fringe in recent years.

10 Fringe performers on how to improve the world's biggest arts festival

With a fresh start following two years of pandemic restrictions, what should the Edinburgh festivals be doing better? We asked some festival performers for their thoughts.

50 unmissable shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022

We can't make it to Edinburgh ourselves this year - BUT FEAR NOT! We've picked out 50 - yes, fifty - of the offbeat, less mainstream offerings from this years Edinburgh Fringe line-up.

Monkey Barrel Comedy: 'a comedian's comedians club'

With established names and experimental acts, plus plenty of atmosphere and a dash of anarchy, Jay Richardson explains why he'll be spending much of his Fringe with the upstart primate.

Dara O Briain's family holiday skewered as he learned of MTW's axing

Mock The Week host Dara O Briain was away on holiday when he was told the news that his beloved comedy programme was being cancelled by the BBC after 17 years.

Frank Skinner cancels Edinburgh Fringe show over family health issue

A spokesperson for Frank Skinner said he is now unable to travel away from London for the foreseeable future.

Edinburgh Fringe interview: rarely asked questions - Luca Cupani

Italian comic Luca Cupani has won plenty of fans for his hilarious confessional style, since first stumbling into the Edinburgh Fringe as a visitor in 2014.

Mock The Week could be saved by Dave after BBC axe it after 17 years

Broadcaster Dave may come to the rescue with an offer to buy the comedy favourite from the Beeb.

Fringe Q&A: Jamie D'Souza

As he brings his newcomer hour to the Fringe, Jamie D'Souza talks about his first Edinburgh experience, his comedy heroes and forecasting for Sainsbury's.

Interview: Jake Cornell and Marcia Belsky

The duo behind Man and Woman talk about the musicality of comedy.

Mock The Week deserved to be cancelled

After seventeen years and more than 200 episodes, the cackling and sniggering is finally over for the panel show Mock The Week.

As a long-time viewer, and erstwhile huge fan of the show who still partly enjoys repeats of older episodes on Dave, I can tell you why viewers started to switch off in the last decade.

Peter Buckley Hill's 'Free Fringe' is just the ticket amid the cost of living crisis

Many years ago, in my role as the city council's Festival and Events Champion, I was invited to see some shows which formed part of Peter Buckley Hill's "Free Fringe" and I am glad to see that from its humble beginnings back in 1996, it is still going strong and is staging a vast array of shows at this year's event.

Comedy newbie Q&A: Michael Akadiri

Having a good old go at the Q&A today is Michael Akadiri.

Kate Barron: I was a size 34 and scared to joke about weight on stage

A comedian making her debut at this year's Fringe will take to the stage 13st lighter - but don't expect any cheap fat jokes.

One-liner comedians on the Fringe

Quickfire comics like Tim Vine, Will Mars and Richard Pulsford have endured their one-liner humour being scorned as 'low-status'. Isn't it time, asks Kate Copstick, we gave the creators of these haikus of hilarity the respect they deserve?

Celya AB interview

'I'm not always nice about the British. But it's always with love'.