2014 Edinburgh Fringe

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For his debut Edinburgh Fringe show, completely broke BAFTA-nominated star, Spencer Jones, has turned his house-buying nightmare into a comedy character clown show.

Spencer Jones is The Herbert tells the story of man left to his own devices in a house that is falling to pieces and in the constant throes of repair. The Herbert is hopeless at any form of building work, so instead he messes about with tools and building materials, creating characters, songs, and laughs from everyday objects.

How much fun can he have before the builders come back, and will this get in the way of looking after the baby he's minding?

Playing multiple roles, mixing visual comedy, clown and character pieces, Spencer Jones has merged clowning and construction - 'clownstruction' anyone? - out of necessity as much as creativity:

"In the last six months I've been surrounded by drills, cement, plumbing, saws, wood, bricks and dodgy builders. I will be using all of these to create a show unlike any other in Edinburgh - mixing classic comedy styles and modern property renovation culture."

"I'm playing with the idea of what is expected of a real man, and the child inside all of us who just wants to have fun and be silly. The world outside is a very serious place, but when your house is a ruin you need to remember what it's like to be carefree."

Spencer is a student of Philippe Gaulier and Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Doctor Brown. He was nominated for a BAFTA for his debut television show Big Babies, which has been sold around the world and is currently being remade in the US. Among his other screen credits are: Hollyoaks, Pulling, Skins, Count Arthur Strong and Christopher Guest's Family Tree.

Not unlike most builders, Spencer has juggled various jobs including street performer, wedding singer and radio presenter. The Herbert is Spencer's debut solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe after appearing in the play Charlie Baker's Wedding Band in 2011.