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With so many comedy shows to chose from, picking what to see can be a very confusing and quite often frightening experience. Well, that's why we're here - to help. Below, in no particular order, you will find a selection of comedy events, each with their own individual description, to help you decide if you'd like to go and see them. There's also a helpful index on the right. Basically, it's a guarantee of a good time, no strings attached. Who are you to argue? We've read the fringe programme from cover to cover and we've singled out a few shows which will get your chuckle muscles flexed.

ADAM BLOOM

After a long three-year absence, Adam Bloom makes a welcome return to the Fringe. Bloom’s reputation has been well established in previous years, but despite his undeniable talent and presence on stage, he hasn’t been able to find the right vehicle to lift his profile to a wider audience. His Radio 4 show, The Problem With Adam Bloom, was well received and gained a justifiable second series, but it’s on stage and in the moment that Bloom’s talents really shine out. His confidence, all encompassing and never faltering, is often mistaken for arrogance and he occasionally slips into an off hand manner that can be somewhat alienating and intimidating, but his comedic ability can pardon him of all these accusations. Adam Bloom is a wonderfully enthusiastic performer, in love with and in complete control of his art form, and it’s great to again have the opportunity to watch a master craftsman at work.

ALEX HORNE – EVERY BODY TALKS

What with Big Brother being on the telly and Dermot O’Diddly having highly trained experts in on BBLB to translate the hidden meanings of body language, it seems strange that they haven’t as yet enlisted the help of Alex and his able assistant Tim, both experts in the field of reading the body. Alex and Tim swept the board last year at the Comedy Lounge awards, taking home with them a shatterproof ruler (each) and a bag of flying saucers (to share)– an achievement not to be sniffed at, especially as we are assured that the rulers are still proving very useful. If you saw last years beautifully crafted show with insane attention to detail then you will be pleased that you came back to see the sequel. There is the usual technical wizardry, silly puns, red trainers and some pretty catchy ditties for you to get trapped in a mind loop. Alex and Tim never fail to be one of Comedy Lounge favourites and they should be yours too.

ANDREW CLOVER

At first sight, Andrew Clover can be one of those performers with the ability to split the audience neatly down the middle, dividing those who get it from those who just don’t. His boisterous mannerisms and penchant for getting naked on stage initially had him marked down as one of those acts so close to the spirit of the Fringe that he would inevitably disappear into obscurity. Fortunately for him, Clover became the darling of one particular broadsheet reviewer, and his profile grew, helped along with a Perrier Newcomer nomination. This is altogether a great thing, because Andrew Clover is, if nothing else, a master storyteller who can weave the most elaborate and complicated fairytales, and breathe new and vibrant life into any old stagnant narrative. Lose your inhibitions and allow his contagious enthusiasm for life pull you along on the ride.

BAD PLAY 2: WORSER PLAY

The title really does speak volumes. Taking the piss out of the am-dram drama school types and frankly terribly written plays which swamp the Fringe every year, Bad Play 2: Worser Play promises to be the worst show you will see and given that we are writing this on 28 July 2004 and the script is only half written, its safe to say they will almost certainly stay true to their word. It’ll be juvenile, terribly written, appallingly acted but definitely very funny. It’s a play. It’s bad. But it stars three of the most talented comics on the Fringe, and possibly features another three, although we couldn’t possibly say who… You heard it here first.

ROBIN INCE

Robin Ince appeared on more satellite channel discussion shows than Abi Titmuss and Terry Dwyer put together, and he’s not afraid to tell us all about it in graphic, disturbing detail. Ince last appeared on the Fringe as part of the four headed monster that was Rubbernecker with Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Jimmy Carr, and his dry detached style and eye for devilish detail fitted right into the style of these shows. His ability to talk knowledgeably on any subject, from Marco off of BB5 to Cheryl Tweedy means that Ince is already a welcome and valued guest at any social gathering. His stand up has always been a circuit and CL favourite, and this year since he’s been kind enough to bring a show to the Fringe for us all, it would just be downright rude not to turn up.

SPENCER BROWN

Spencer Brown has been missing in action for some time, and his unexplained absence has not gone unnoticed by the CL camp. Accused in previous years of lifting Steve Martin’s wild and crazy persona wholesale and wearing it like an oversized jangly suit has weighed heavily on Brown’s shoulders in the past, but hopefully this year will be the year when he shrugs these accusations off and finds his own performance space. His publicity photos really tell you all you need to know about his at – he leaps, larger and more Technicolor than life, through the famous WB cartoon circle. This image is a perfect visual translation of his presence on stage – he shakes, he stutters, he stumbles, he dances, he runs himself ragged, and all while delivering a cacophony of mind bending and tongue twisting comedy, mixed up with groan inducing puns and expertly weaved far out situations. The energy shared by this performer is ultimately the best pick-me-up to be found at the Fringe, and should be taken in large doses.

CHRIS ADDISON

It would be fair to say that Chris Addison isn’t exactly a master of disguise. The moment he walks on stage, one thing is very clear: he’s a posh bloke. By now a Fringe veteran, Addison returns to Edinburgh with another variation on his favourite theme: the fact that he’s a posh bloke. Good natured, impeccably dressed and with posture your mother would certainly approve of, Addison strides up and down the stage delivering his sermon like a trendy Church of England vicar on one of his six days off, trying to slightly let his hair down and failing miserably. His continued return to the same topic would in most people’s hands appear to be a sign of an inflexible imagination, but with Addison it’s like someone polishing a diamond – continually refining the subject so that it continues to sparkle. Indeed, his uncanny ability, year after year, to find some new life in a subject he is constantly exploring, is something that should be rewarded and applauded.

COLIN MURPHY

The beautiful quiet genius of Colin Murphy has been worming its way subtly into the psyche of the Irish nation over the last few years, thanks to his late night television appearances on The Blizzard Of Odd. In this show, he dissects the week’s Irish television output, explores old film clips of the country and generally mocks anything that moves. Murphy is well established as a cult favourite in Ireland and this may well be the year that his star rises over the water too. His is a straight forward stand up performance: no crazy stunts, no zany props, no sparkly suits to distract from the mighty whimsy he weaves through clever use of words. He seems to look on the world with a combination of wonder, disgust and delight, and he treats every topic with equal amounts of respect and disdain, a balancing act that brings great results. In a previous year, he took suggestions for the name of his unborn child, and promised that the name voted for by the majority of the audience would end up on the birth certificate. See what he’s got lined up this year.

THE CONSULTANTS

The Consultants still hold the land speed record for quickest move from Perrier (Newcomer) nomination to Radio 4 deal, and with the intricacies of writing that characterise many of their sketches, it’s not difficult to see why. They are still the darlings of Radio 4, and rumours are currently circling about an imminent crossover to the land of the telly. But don’t let the Radio 4 label put you off: underneath the passive, calm, grown up exterior of these three sane looking men lie hearts of darkness, and a capacity for shock and awe that can often catch an audience completely off guard. As the Fringe is suddenly severely lacking in sketch groups, it’s great to see The Consultants appearing for the third year in a row, looking like crazy businessmen in their dapper suits and ties, and with that gleam in their eye unmistakeable for the mischief that lurks beneath. Justin Edward’s songs are a particular delight, and worth the price of the ticket alone, as you’ll be humming them for the duration of your stay in the Athens of the North.

PHIL NICHOL & JANICE PHAYRE – FREEDUMB

Words cannot describe the hero worship that emanates from us upon the uttering of the name of the great Phil Nichol. Last year's show, "Things I Like I Lick" was declared our all-out favourite show of the year, and we're ever so pleased he's come back. He is a Perrier-Nominated former Juice Pig, composer of classics like "Emotionally Challenged Girl" and "The Only Gay Eskimo" and armed with the ability to mood-swing so greatly from one moment to the next that every member of the audience is likely to get caught in the cross-fire, his shows are edge-of-the-seat, side-splitting, tear-jerking, heart-warming, racy, delicious, unmissable lumps of greatness that will never be equalled in measure. In short, we like. We like a lot. Nichol has a marvellous ability to help everyone to join in with his show, whether you want to or not, through cajoling, constant interminable persuasion, seduction or simply screaming at them until they sing along. And if none of the above work, he will tweak his nipples at you. He is one of the very few comedians that can reduce you to helpless tears of laughter simply by the way he stands, or the looks he throws around the audience. He gives his all in the name of entertaining you, and by god by the end of it you’ll be well and truly entertained. This year, he’s added the extra spark of teaming up with Janice Phayre. Janice is one half of double act Susan and Janice, another CL favourite of old. It’s not immediately obvious what to expect from this pairing, but it’s never been particularly easy to predict what Nichol will get up to on a show by show basis, so strap yourselves in and brace yourself for a bumpy ride.

GARY LE STRANGE

On a recent Team CL road trip across Ireland, we spent a large majority of the time receiving some very strange looks from other drivers while stopped at traffic lights. These looks may well be attributed to the fact that as we sat there, we’d be singing along to last year’s Gary Le Strange release, Polaroid Suitcase, and quite often accompanying ourselves with the appropriate Face Warrior hand gestures. In short, Gary Le Strange shows stay with you. Happily, this year – his second Fringe show – is also accompanied by a new CD release, and hopefully new dance sequences that we can learn and perform for the bemusement of passersby. Waen Shepherd’s character creation took off in a big way at last year’s Fringe, capturing the imagination of everyone who saw it and earning for Waen a Perrier Newcomer award, and more importantly a clutch of Comedy Lounge titles. This year, we are invited to join the Face Academy, and we for two are very excited. Combining comedy lyrics with some genuinely brilliant musical numbers is no small feat, especially with his ability to combine that kind of lyrical greatness with tunes that wouldn’t be lost in an I Love The Eighties compilation. Add to that the fact that the banter between the songs could carry the show on its own, and it’s clear that last year’s show was no one hit wonder. Songs of special interest this year include the brilliant Warriors of Style, What Love Is, and Photocopier, which made me cry for five minutes the first time I heard it.

JEREMY LION

If you already know the answer to the question “Who put the jack in jack in the box?” then Uncle Jeremy needs no introduction, and we’re assuming that, like us, you’ve bought your tickets already. If not, then you’re in for a big surprise. In fact, if you go down to Jeremy Lion’s Birthday Party today, you’ll never believe your eyes. For every one that ever there was should gather round for certain, because today is the day that you’ll meet famed children’s entertainer Jeremy Lion (and accompanying pianist Leslie) and your life will never be quite the same. Last year’s Christmas Party was a riot from beginning to end, and even required that extra chairs be brought into the tiny Pleasance Hut in which it was being performed. In these intimate surroundings, you are transported back to those awful children’s parties you suffered through in your childhood, when even then you were painfully aware that the adult standing in front of you may have once had ambitions of greater things, and had sadly failed the reach the giddy heights of his aspirations. Jeremy Lion is every entertainer ever witnessed, but without the professional standards, sadly without the balloon animals, and most importantly without the sobriety. The exploits of the Birthday Party are a closely kept secret, but for anyone who remembers the dissection of the snowman last year, you can be sure that Uncle Jeremy probably has something equally disgusting up his sleeve.

JEREMY HARDY

A while ago, lovely Jezza Hardy, recently sacked by the Guardian newspaper and at a loose end, was asked by an independent film producer to take on the Israeli Army single handedly, and be filmed in the process. Jeremy said yes, went to Israel, was nearly killed, and the resulting production “Jeremy Hardy Vs The Israeli Army” was given a limited cinema release this time last year to great acclaim. This year, Jeremy has set himself an altogether different challenge, and is performing a month at the festival for, as he admits himself, no particular reason. But this is a man who doesn’t have a single streak of apathy in him, and is completely unable to lack an opinion. Whatever his reason for appearing, he really shouldn’t be missed. His long running Radio 4 show, Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, has been providing him with a platform from which to lecture the public on how to live their rights through the rules according to Jeremy – topics ranged from How To Be A Man to How To Have Sex. Many comedians have been given the title of “comedy legend” simply because they’ve been around for a while and never quite got around to dropping off the circuit. Hardy’s sometimes pompous persona can never quite mask the caring heart and compassion that runs through every last topic he covers, and he deserves the title of comedy legend simply because he is brilliant.

TIM KEY’S LUKE AND STELLA

Avid readers of Comedy Lounge, other than being annoyed at us for not updating the site in a good while, will know that for months now (since January) we have been championing this beautifully observed, exquisitely performed and wonderfully funny hour of tragi-comedy. We’re not going to tell you the premise or ruin the ending; you’ll just have to go along with not too much of an idea of what the show is about. When you walk out of the Cellar with a smile on your face, we guarantee you will be running over to us and frantically shaking us by the hand. You can tell your mates you discovered the show, just so long as you make them go and see it too. Give this man a piece of perspex with a bottle of water trapped inside.

*COMEDY LOUNGE BRIGHT IDEA* Why not take yourself along to the Cellar and see The Trap followed by Tim Key’s Luke and Stella? It’s certainly what we’ll be doing. And probably on more than one occasion. We’re full of great ideas.

OLIVER & ZALTZMAN

John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman, fellow stable mates at Avalon, have been ploughing the same furrow for a few years now, and indeed have been making special guest appearances in each other’s solo shows, so it’s not surprising that they’ve finally come to their senses and put their combined forces together to form this show, the immediate winner of Best Title For A Show this year. A two hander from these performers is something a girl can only dream of, and this year they’ve made it a reality. They’ve been predicting the end of the world for various reasons for a while now, and it’s nice to see they’re both still chewing over the same problem. Alongside their show at the Pleasance, they’re also presenting an ever changing nightly political show at The Stand, which means a double helping of the Oliver/Zaltzman action for anyone who needs an extra hit.

LAURENCE & GUS

The nice thing about the Fringe is that you can stumble across an act you’ve not heard too much about, and be really surprised by the results you find. It’s not always a pleasant experience, but taking a gamble at the Fringe is one of the best ways to experience the festival for what it is – an opportunity for performers to do absolutely anything they like. Last year’s pleasant surprise for us were Laurence and Gus, a double act who truly confounded our expectations and turned out to be one of the best shows we saw last year. Their extended sketches almost turned into mini dramatic performances, the writing was so strong and the performances so sustained throughout. Laurence and Gus are brilliant writers, but more than that are able to carry their ideas through to reality with great aplomb but little fuss. This year they are Men In Love, and they are well worth checking out as our official tip for the Next Big Thing

NICE MUM

It’s no secret that the CL preferred form of comedy is the double act or sketch variety. Many double acts have come and gone, and there are many forms they can take, but the longest lasting acts are those that also remain good friends outside the performance. Sure, a serious hatred for each other – cf. Newman and Baddiel, the early 1990s – can provide the spark that results in some really vitriolic and passionate performances, and the drive to outperform each other can mean some seriously strong writing, but to really last the distance, a strong friendship is always essential. The joy of watching an act like Nice Mum perform comes from the electric chemistry between them. As they let loose on stage and occasionally veer from the path the original script might have set out, it’s always a pleasure to see them spar off each other, one being able to follow the other’s thoughts and intentions. It’s in the little moments that Nice Mum particularly shine, and ridiculously stupid moments like The Cherry People, a kind of diversion that would probably fail in other people’s hands, can take off and leave you in the kind of giggling mess you haven’t experienced since the age of seven. It's all bound to end in tears... which is a gay club in Exeter.

STEWART LEE

Over a decade ago, Stewart Graham Lee was on telly, with an inexplicable hair cut and some snazzy waistcoats (in the first series at least), dancing about with comedy partner Richard Keith Herring. A decade later, and he is making his 15th(???- check) Fringe appearance, his first full run since 2001. The last few years has found a very busy lee, publishing his first novel, The Perfect Fool, directing Simon Munnery’s award winning Attention Scum, presenting his regular radio show on Resonance FM, and of course co-writing and directing the multi-award winning Jerry Spring The Opera. With all these projects on the go, Lee had given up stand up until last year’s Fringe, when he did some late night shows while in Edinburgh directing Johnny Vegas’ DVD. This year’s welcome return brings a more reflective and relaxed Lee, in the up and coming exciting venue of The Underbelly, which seems to have become the hothouse for developing new talent and championing new ideas at the Fringe. Stewart Lee is the comedian’s comedian, the comedy connoisseur’s comedian, a comedian for all people. His extended set pieces are a particular delight, as he follows every idea to it’s inevitable and exhaustive conclusion, and you will have the opportunity to hear some of the old classics – fingers crossed for the “Have you been sick?” routine making a welcome appearance – at The Assembly Rooms INSERT NAME OF WHATEVER THAT SHOW IS CALLED.

LEE MACK

The Mack Daddy of all comedians returns, slick from his show biz success both sides of the rather large pond between the UK and America, starring as he does in The Sketch Show. Finding new topics for stand up comedy is difficult enough, but original material for sketches is even more difficult to come by – and yet Mack seems to have an endless well to tap. Rather than relying on recurring catchphrases or characters, he spins off in all directions, many of which stick in the mind for years to come. His solo stand up act is also a memorable experience, jumping as he does from slap stick to the style of the old music hall entertainers to the most contemporary story tellers. Mack is seemingly a master of all trades. In the immortal words of his 2001 Fringe show, We Love You Lee Mack!