Susan Calman is smart, funny and probably the finest comedian on the circuit who can stand upright in a black taxi cab. Her Edinburgh show a couple of years ago, in which she revealed a mild obsession with Prime Suspect and made an impassioned, emotional case for gay marriage, was inexplicably overlooked by the Edinburgh Comedy Award judging panel. Calman, who was a successful lawyer before turning to comedy, hardly needs the award now. She has become a TV panel game regular and a Radio 4 stalwart and it wouldn’t surprise me if she ascends to national treasure status in a few short years. Her new show, Lady Like, finds the self-styled “mad cat lady” shooting the breeze about her life – according to the Fringe brochure she doesn’t want to say more or it will spoil the surprise. Which probably means she hadn’t written the show when the Fringe brochure deadline hurtled over the horizon*. Take it from me though, it will be at least as funny as seeing a small woman standing upright in a taxi. She previews the show at the Balham Comedy Festival tonight. 

Susan Calman is at the Underbelly from July 31 - Aug 24. Tickets here.

*SC has been in touch to add the following: "To be fair the show was finished in January. I just genuinely don't want people to arrive with preconceptions".