2010 Edinburgh Fringe

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Alex Horne, award-winning comedian and star and co-creator (alongside Tim Key and Mark Watson) of BBC Four's comedy quiz show We Need Answers, returns to Edinburgh with his brand new stand-up show, Odds.

Everyone loves a flutter. In 1808, a vicar in Edinburgh made a wager of a hundred guineas that he would read six chapters from the Bible every hour for six weeks at odds of 10-1. In the early 1960s a professional gambler called Amarillo Slim bet $15,000 at odds of 2.5 to 1 that a fly would land on a particular sugar cube in an Arkansas jail. In 2008 an award-winning comedian called Alex Horne endeavoured to tread in these gallant men's footsteps by making an outlandish wager with William Hill at odds of 32-1.

Proposition bets have a rich and colourful history. Legends are made of those who rashly try to achieve something ridiculous. This was, Alex thought, a sure-fire way to both make some money and an entertaining Edinburgh show.

Unfortunately, within six months it became apparent that his bet was neither winnable nor interesting. It was dull and near impossible. But Ales was determined to win it. He was sure he wasn't a loser. And he had to do an Edinburgh show.

Demonstrating all the resourcefulness of someone who has written two books, five comedy shows and one cult quiz for BBC Four, Alex therefore sought to win the bet by other means. He did some maths, he contacted Professor Stephen Hawking, he contemplated cheating. Now, with a month of this mysterious bet remaining, Alex presents a remarkable and interactive story about trying to achieve the impossible, beat the bookies and overcome the odds.