Gregor Fisher in Conversation with Nigel West, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

By Ollie Wilson

This was a very interesting run-through of super-talented Gregor Fisher's illustrious career - to a very appreciative, predominantly Scottish audience - who thoroughly enjoyed the 'conversation' with Nigel West.

I have always been interested in his work, watching Rab C Nesbitt, although it was not entirely my cup of tea, and absolutely loving Para Handy. In fact, I recall I was the only UK national newspaper television critic to give The Tales of Para Handy TV series a rave review. 

It was fascinating to hear about the other things he has done and to get a sense of this great man (back in the day, my interview requests were always turned down!) He has a gentle wit and is wonderfully indiscreet. On his impending, top-secret role in TV drama Shetland, he said: 'I might be the thing [that's done it], I'm not allowed to say!' 

Now I am myself working primarily as an actor, I probably laughed louder at the his drama school tales than the rest of the audience, as he joked about being forced to learn Received Pronunciation and doing 'tree and vine work', getting a boner in his leotard. In fact, I picked up quite a lot on acting from what he said in this conversation, so thanks for that, Gregor. And the repertory theatre black-and-white pictures of a young Fisher in various servant roles were gorgeous. In one, he was pictured with his wife to be, a posh lass. 'My mother said to me, "Do you not think you are aiming a bit high?".' 

The section about his first series, Scotch and Rye, was fascinating. . . and I had forgotten about his brilliant Hamlet cigar adverts. Nigel West had done his homework and did a good job at keeping the show clicking along. 

The Al Pacino bit was also excellent and hilarious, and showed to me how humble Gregor Fisher is, a private, grounded Scotch bloke with a lot of skill, talent and dedication to the art of acting. I left the hall, feeling very glad I had just spent a wee bit of quality time in his company.

Star Rating: *****

Phil Nichol: The Naked Racist, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

 By Ollie Wilson and Laura King

Stand-up great Phil Nichol reprised his 2006 Comedy Award-winning show The Naked Racist on its 20th Anniversary - to a capacity crowd and a tumultuous reception.

Following a bust-up with his then girlfriend, Nichol headed to Amsterdam alone to embark on a four-day drink and drugs binge - largely magic mushrooms - which turned bad and mad!

Inspired by the Doukhobors, who were peace-loving people from Russia who countered threats by getting naked and apologising regardless of who was in the wrong, his crazed adventure (hooking up with a crazed American ex-squaddie, fleeing a road traffic accident, arguing with an Armenian barman about war, experiencing a heavy metal band etc.), culminated in him dealing with a gang of skinheads, who believed he was gay at a LGBT Holocaust memorial, by removing his clothes, and chasing them. Only to find, in his drug-addled state, he was pursuing a couple of innocent black kids instead.

Nichol stripped entirely naked for half of the show as he delivered an anti-war message as apposite today as it was 20 years ago. He also persuaded his heavy metal band to do the same - and audience members to remove items clothing. How he does it, no one knows.

The Naked Racist is as much a masterpiece today as it was in 2006. It is insanely funny, daring and joyful. It is a wonderful, beautiful show about love and peace; a significant piece of work that will never be forgotten.

Star rating: *****

 

Aidan Greene: Stuttermilk Pancakes, Underbelly Bristo Square, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

By Ollie Wilson

This is a brilliant show from the king of stammering comedy, Aidan Greene - and I loved every second of it.

From Greene's childhood memories of a teacher who he believed actually had eyes in the back of her head (a theory he tried to test by orchestrating a daring ambush!) to his abortive appearance as Prince Charming in the school pantomime, it had his 16-strong audience in tears of laughter.

I loved his Joe Biden material, although, to be fair, having once allegedly had a stammer was the least of Joe's issues! And I thorough enjoyed his childhood list of likes and dislikes about himself, dutifully produced to satisfy his school speech therapist. Moreover, his 'Scatman' material was lovely.

It is the gifted Irishman's ninth show at the Edinburgh Fringe; all, it seems, related to his stammer, although he has branched out into a couple of other conditions (it seems stand-ups collect them like trophies these days!) 

And, of course, he is right to regard his stammer as a strength. I am a bit prone to stammering, particularly when I would really rather not (such as job interviews or trying to talk to celebrities!), while my wonderful elder brother has always had a far more severe stammer than me. Yet it did not stop him from graduating with a top Oxford University mathematics degree, doing a doctorate, having an accomplished City career and retiring comfortably early. Not once, in 65 years, has he complained about his stammer or even mentioned it!

In a similar vein to that, Greene' 'Daniel story' was moving, interesting and inspiring. As is Greene's own remarkable history and approach to a successful life. 

Stammer on, dude! This outstanding show is easily worth five stars!

Star Rating: *****

Star Rating: ****

Andrew O'Neill: A Short, Aggressive Lecture on Krill, Then Jokes

 By Ollie Wilson

For more than 25 years I have been following the comedy of Andrew O'Neill, from the little comedy clubs of Stoke Newington and Soho, London, to his numerous and oftentimes esoteric Edinburgh Fringe projects. So, I was a tad surprised to enter, on an inclement Monday night in mid-Fringe, a packed venue including the legendary Frank Skinner, quietly sheltering in the crowd, for a 'work-in-progress' O'Neill show.

I have always thought of Andrew O'Neill, from his debut as a fresh-faced 22-year-old to now, as a great and original comedy talent. And the bare bones of this show - from rap about cupboards to hilarious and also mundane 'celebrity tips' to an inspired audience-participation in the Alphabet Song, accompanied in G on the unamplified xylophone - were gloriously funny.

Drawing from his carefully structured notes, some of them stream of consciousness, some meticulously layered, he performed it all with enormous stage presence, so, for once, no one minded that he didn't know every syllable by heart. Work in progress, he explained, meant in practice that not much progress has been made, not a lot of work done!

O'Neill is most affable. And I loved the apparent randomness of his set. For instance, his crowd work: 'Are you are Nazi?' Or the star tip from Keith Richards to call the postman by his first name, so he hung around far longer with a parcel. Sage advice from the drug-addled from the Rolling Stones' veteran guitarist.

It was the joyous way O'Neill told them that made it comedy gold. I couldn't see but I strongly suspect that Frank Skinner was laughing like a drain. How could he not, when everyone else was? This is a top-end five-star show.

Star Rating: *****

 

Burger and a Pint, Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh Fringe 2026

 By Ollie Wilson and Laura King

The problem with sketch comedy is it is easy for anyone with a bit of performance experience to give it a go - and many, many do so with middling results or worse.

First-class comedy material is essential to make it work better than that and, unfortunately, James Trickey and Ted Milligan fell short. In fact, most of their jokes sucked.

They were playing to an almost-capacity crowd in the Cellar - usually a students' newspaper office - but two audience members walked out some 20 minutes into the show. It was easy to see why.

The funniest part of the show for me was when I (Ollie) realised my girlfriend Laura had fallen asleep and I caught the eye of a guy in the row behind me whose girlfriend had also dropped off!

Repeated jokes about Phil Wang, being half-Asian, being bisexual, that film about The Beatles not existing et cetera do need to inspire some mirth. I daresay the aspiring journalists who use the room in term time could have written more amusing jokes.

The funniest part for me (Laura) was the fucking puppets but it went on too long, stretched wafer thin.

It was a shame because Trickey and Milligan are talented performers with a lot of self-confidence. They just need an excellent comedy writer or to improve drastically their own comedy writing skills.

For that reason, we are - generously - giving them three stars.

Star rating: ***