2011 Edinburgh Fringe

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Following the success of last year's live chat show, Edinburgh Tonight with Joe Simmons (of Topping & Butch) - the show returns with a new co-presenter - the legendary actress and British icon Lorraine Chase (Emmerdale / Lame Ducks / The Other Arf). As well as a new face to the show it moves to a brand new venue - The Space Cabaret Room at The Carlton Hotel - just renovated with a transformation comparative to a 1930's Berlinsque Cabaret style bar.

The hour-long TV formatted chat & game show was devised by producer Terry Finnegan to highlight not just the Edinburgh Festival, but everything that is on offer to residents of the city and its many visitors. This year will also feature some exclusive famous faces that are not performing at the festival. The show also stars Kate Copstick, Scotsman uber-critique (Show Me The Funny) and camp musical comedian Michael Topping (also of Topping and Butch).

As well as presenting their humorous observations on pop culture, politics, and current events, the show will preview highlights of musical, comedy, theatrical and other fringe and festival shows providing audiences with a 'try before you buy' taste of what's on in Edinburgh tonight! Celebrity and human interest guests will join Joe, Lorraine, Copstick and Topping for a mix of fast moving chat and challenges that will provide an entertaining and unique perspective on the day's big issues. Audiences will be able to win tickets and other goodies and prizes for shows and performances showcased during the show.

Producer, and Artistic Director of the Space Cabaret, Terry Finnegan said "Edinburgh Tonight with Joe Simmons & Lorraine Chase has a brief to provide a full and non-partisan guide the Fringe Festival, as well as the Edinburgh Book Festival, and all the other events that fill the calendar throughout August; moreover the newly refurbished Space Cabaret at the Carlton Hotel is the perfect setting for this unique chat show!"

The show will vodcast live on the site www.edinburghtonight.net with highlights edited together only 2 hours after the show on both the site and YouTube. Guests will be announced regularly on the site too.

Presenter Details

Lorraine Chase: Lorraine, who turns 60 just prior to the festival, comes from South East London. Working as a successful model, she came to fame in the highly acclaimed Campari TV commercials when her catch phrases "Nice Ere Innit" and "No Luton Airport" became nationally quoted. She went on to be a major celebrity with an enviable acting career which includes a 4 1/2 year stint on Emmerdale, Lame Ducks & her own show The Other Arf. She has too many high profiles theatre roles to name however notably Run For Your Wife (with Terry Scott) & The Undertaking (with Kenneth Williams) were among them. Lorraine has appeared in The Des O'Connor Show, was one of the original guests of Blankety Blank with Terry Wogan and then subsequently Les Dawson, and numerous other comedy and panel games. She is particularly proud to have been a guest on the well-loved Michael Parkinson Show, not once but twice. She is regular presenter and broadcaster and was one of the commentators for the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Lorraine has enjoyed over 30 years in the business during which she has loved appearing in Christmas Pantomimes playing the title role in Aladdin, Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Jack and The Beanstalk, Puss in Boots and Robin Hood, The Wicked Queen in Snow White and recently Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty.

Joe Simmons: Joe has worked as part of comedy double act Topping & Butch with shows at the Fringe since 2003. Their most recent show in 2009 Topping & Butch - Twisted! at The Stand Comedy Venues received widespread critical acclaim and in the past year they have travelled with their show to Dublin, Prague and Singapore, performed in many of the established comedy clubs around the UK including Jongleurs, Highlights and Headliners. 2010 saw Joe make his first foray into the world of the TV Chat Show to much acclaim, getting praise from the greats including Gyles Brandreth on his handling of the art. www.toppingandbutch.com

Michael Topping: the 67 year young (!) has been performing professionally since he was 17 years old. His first performance was as the rehearsal pianist for the Blackpool Children's Pantomime. The ensuing 50 years have encompassed a wide array of manifestations including Musical Director, solo cabaret, working with Hinge and Brackett, drag cabaret as Countess Malitza Von Hove and for the last 12 years he has been partnered with Joe Simmons as Edinburgh Fringe Festival Cabaret Award winners and firm favourites Topping and Butch. Last year Michael performed his own show Heels over Head in Love at the Space Venues "combination of reckless candour and guilty reaction is utterly endearing." Chortle

Kate Copstick: For years she has been the most controversial critic at the Edinburgh Festival. Love her or hate her, her opinions are often stark, honest and occasionally brutal. Copstick joins the Edinburgh Tonight team every night to take on her critics and those she has reviewed in controversial banter and exchanges. She'll explain the reasons behind she reviews the way she does and opens up about some of her most prolific reviews from previous years.