Mike Wozniak

Mike Wozniak in the #WOWwagon (Link expired)

Mike Wozniak might be best known now for his moustachioed portrayal of Brian alongside Greg Davies in the superb Channel 4 sitcom Man Down, but he's also a Fringe favourite, and something of a veteran, having been nominated for the if.comedy best newcomer award back in 2008.

Mike Wozniak: One Man Dad Cat Band

Mike Wozniak successfully avoids telling Martin Walker anything about his 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Mike Wozniak: One Man Dad Cat Band, whilst making the show sound absolutely fascinating.

Edinburgh preview: Mike Wozniak

In my head Mike Wozniak has a little place in Edinburgh Fringe history. Long before free shows were sweeping the awards board his gratis gig in the basement of a restaurant near the Pleasance was the first free show that the Edinburgh Comedy Award panel advised me to check out back in 2008.

The second series of Greg Davies's crude, clever comedy continues to deliver, despite the hole left by Rik Mayall. This week, Davies's world-worn protagonist Dan is horrified to discover that his former school bully has the lead role in a play that he is attending with his students. Cue group therapy and a lesson in resilience from Aunt Nesta (Stephanie Cole). As per, disaster-prone pals Jo (Roisin Conaty) and Brian (Mike Wozniak) get into a variety of scrapes, too.

Latitude review: Mike Wozniak

He may be out of his comfort zone, and the first set on a Friday morning is never going to be the easiest slot to navigate, but Wozniak’s careworn, Basil Fawlty meets Howard Moon slant on the difficulties of life make light work of the early morning crowd.

Game Face has the potential to become a hit if it gets the green light.

Comedian Roisin Conaty and Mike Wozniak, who played Greg Davies's best mates in the hit C4 comedy Man Down, are reunited in this sitcom pilot, written by Conaty herself. She plays Marcella, a chaotic under-achiever and compulsive liar who's hoping to make a fresh start with the help of a life coach, a wonderfully straight-faced Wozniak.

Alcohol, fried chicken and an old enemy from school somehow conspire to derail all Marcella's best-laid plans. If you've caught Conaty's stand-up show or any of her panel-game appearances you'll know she's a natural (she won the Best Newcomer award at Edinburgh in 2010).

So while this pilot boasts flashbacks, bad country and western and even a cameo from East 17's Brian Harvey, it's Conaty's own brashly unsinkable personality that pulls it all together.

Interview: Mike Wozniak

Mike Wozniak is currently touring the UK with his 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated show, Take The Hit. Radio Teesdale's Peter Dixon caught up with our favourite stache-modeller to talk about the show, character comedy, the demise of BBC Three, working with Greg Davies on C4 sitcom Man Down and more.

Review: Mike Wozniak: Take The Hit - Newcastle Stand

There are no fireworks here, no big pay-offs, and stretched out to an hour the concept runs the risk of wearing thin, but there's still heaps of daring, animated tale-telling here to enjoy.

Interview: Mike Wozniak on his latest show Take the Hit

The show focuses on a man browbeaten into domestic torment.

Mike Wozniak: Take the Hit @ The Lowry, Salford, 19 Jan

A great performer with an interesting style, he is trapped between abandoning the basis of the show and simply getting on with his act.