MARK WATSON

This year, the Edinburgh Fringe will play host to a World Record attempt at the longest comedy show in history. The title says it all, really. This will be a show that runs for 24 hours. It is rather overambitious. And Mark Watson is the comic tackling this David Blaine-esque feat. From five minutes to midnight on August 22 to the same time on August 23, Watson will be the master of endurance, keeping the laughs going, keeping the crowds coming and trying to put aside thoughts of going to the toilet. Watson – an acclaimed stand-up and author who is also doing a full Edinburgh run of the double-header show Rhod Gilbert and Mark Watson are Stereocomics – will guide this extravagant piece of performance art through the highs of the first few hours to the exhausting final hours, as he pits his comedic skills against the lure of sleep and the voices in his weary head. Expected highlights of the 24 hours include: a debate on the existence of God, an hour spoken entirely in middle-aged clichés, sketches, drama, “satellite links” to other shows, a look-back at Euro 2004, a regular newsletter published every hour, a Trisha-meets-the-Catholic-Church-confession-session, readings from Mark’s “brilliantly hilarious” (Stephen Fry) debut novel Bullet Points, a blue hour, and a birthday party for those lucky enough to be celebrating their big day on August 23. This is a once in a lifetime chance to be part of one of the most exciting Fringe events ever. It’s the kind of event you’ll want to brag that you were at. Don’t wait to read the inevitable tie-in book, be there in the flesh to witness this history-making show which is set to propel Watson into the big league of comedy and the realms of sleep-deprived lunacy.