When it comes to recommending Edinburgh shows James Acaster is pretty much the ultimate no-brainer. In fact I can’t believe that I haven’t recommended the three-times Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee already. My general shorthand for Acaster is to describe him as a wise-cracking geek, but I’m not sure if this is fair any more. He still looks as if he is wearing the M&S range and waiting for a casting call from The Big Bang Theory, but there is something more muscular about Kettering’s favourite son these days. Even if he still resembles a wet weed his comedy routines feel a lot more pumped up. He has always crafted his material, but lately it seems almost ruthless in its comic accuracy and efficiency. In a Good Way of course. Every word counts. And he is no longer a best kept secret. He was great on Mock The Week and The John Bishop Show recently. Acaster’s latest show sounds like it has a good back story too. Represent is about his time on jury service. I wonder what the Foster’s Award jury will make of him this year.

James Acaster is previewing at the Invisible Dot tonight (8/7), tickets here, and at The Pleasance from Aug 5 - 30, tickets here.