Veteran comedy producers Avalon have announced their full promoted line-up for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, presenting the latest shows from critically-acclaimed acts including Taskmaster champion and co-host of the award-winning podcast Off Menu Ed Gamble, multi-award winning comedian Jayde Adams, critically-acclaimed stand-up Phil Wang, renowned prankster Simon Brodkin (pictured), Fringe veterans including Al Murray as The Pub Landlord and comic legend Frank Skinner, the ‘King of Edinburgh’ himself Richard Herring with his hit podcast RHLSTP, alongside a highly anticipated debut hour from rising star Chloe Petts.
The line-up also sees musical comedy from singing duo Flo & Joan, spoken word and comedy from stand-up Rob Auton, with impressions from one of the UK’s hottest mimics and stand-ups Luke Kempner, and satirist and comic Matt Forde with his latest solo stand-up hour as well as live recordings of his hit Political Party Podcast with guests including former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
During the last 32 years, Avalon have worked with more Edinburgh Comedy Award winners and nominees than any other company including: Chris Addison, Greg Davies, Dave Gorman, Frank Skinner, Harry Hill, The Mighty Boosh, Al Murray, Russell Kane, Alex Horne, Roisin Conaty, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, Garth Marenghi, Lucy Beaumont, John Kearns, Bilal Zafar, Glenn Moore, Ahir Shah, Ciarán Dowd, and Sophie Duker and three of only six female winners of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award; Jenny Eclair, Laura Solon, and 2018’s winner Rose Matafeo.
Al Murray, The Pub Landlord – Gig For Victory
As the dust settles and we emerge blinking into the dawn of a new year, the men and women of this great country will need answers. Answers that they know they need, answers to questions they never knew existed. And when that moment comes, who better to show the way, to provide those answers, than the people’s man of the people, the Pub Landlord? Steeped in the deep and ancient barroom wisdom of countless lock ins, the Pub Landlord is there to show the way. Wherever you are, he will - within sensible travel limits and theatre booking policy - come, offering people thirsty for common sense a full pint of the good stuff. “A supremely polished performer” (The Mail on Sunday ★★★★★). “Wickedly witty Stuff” (The Telegraph ★★★★).
Chloe Petts – Transience
Rising star Chloe Petts brings her debut solo show, Transience, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Chloe is fresh off supporting Ed Gamble’s UK tour and is co-founder of the ground-breaking The LOL Word, an all women and non-binary queer comedy collective who are “transforming comedy” (The Guardian). She uses her trademark cerebral “laddishness” to examine her desperate attempts at living in in the moment, the darts and her (strictly non-romantic) love for the men who watch it. In 2020, Chloe featured on Penguin’s audiobook Edinburgh Unlocked which was recorded in absence of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, adding to TV and radio credits including Richard Osman's House of Games (BBC Two), Hypothetical (Dave), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2) and Random Acts (Channel 4). “She is confident, laid-back, casual – and very funny” (Ella Braidwood, The Guardian). “compelling presence” (Steve Bennett, Chortle). “brilliant comedian” (Alexandra Harrow, Time Out). “inexhaustibly funny mind” (Diva Magazine).
Ed Gamble – Electric
Award-winning comedian Ed Gamble returns to the Fringe with his brand-new stand-up tour Electric, which he has been touring around the UK this year, playing three sold out nights at London’s iconic Hackney Empire with an extension announced for the autumn. This follows a twice extended sold-out UK tour of his previous stand-up show Blizzard and his comedy special Blood Sugar, which has hit the top spot as most watched stand-up special on Amazon Prime. Winner of series 9 of Taskmaster (UKTV/Channel 4), star of Mock the Week (BBC Two) and co-host of chart topping Off Menu podcast, Ed was one of the judges on the popular BBC2 series Great British Menu and a contestant on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer (Channel 4). After a sell-out tour of his house in 2020 (extended into 2021 due to popular demand), Ol’ Broken Pancreas is charged up and ready to flick the switch on another round of attention seeking in 2022. “Platefuls of stand-up talent…You can bet on Gamble to deliver laughs” (Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard). “Gamble shows masterful comedy skills” (Steve Bennett, Chortle ★★★★).
As part of their current sell-out, 66-date UK national tour, multi-award-winning musical comedy duo Flo & Joan have climbed back out of their pits, armed with a piano and percussion section to bring you a brand-new show of their critically acclaimed songs and comedy with Sweet Release, poking around all the classic topics of the day: over-thinking, alien lovers and fringes. Their unique style has taken them around the world with multiple sell-out tours and appearances including Live at the Apollo (BBC Two), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky) and their own Amazon Prime Special, Alive On Stage.
Frank Skinner – 30 Years of Dirt
A highly anticipated brand-new hour from comic legend Frank Skinner, following his sell-out hit Showbiz. “Real stand-up, real lightness of touch, real joy…” (Dominic Maxwell, The Times) “…the gags just keep on coming. Stand-up’s coming home” (Mark Wareham, Mail on Sunday).
Jayde Adams – Men, I Can Save You
Multi-award-winning comedian Jayde Adams presents her latest hour, Men, I Can Save You, at the Fringe before embarking on her biggest UK tour to date. A champion of inclusive feminism, the established and esteemed Bristolian comic will showcase her intelligent working-class voice as she guides men to salvation the best way she knows how; with sharp humour and telling it like it is. Previously, Jayde garnered 13 five and four star reviews for her last Edinburgh Fringe hour which went on to be filmed for the Amazon Prime special, Serious Black Jumper, and released worldwide, receiving over 150 million views on TikTok. The live show was described as “thoughtful, well-crafted stuff, brimming with funny gags” (The Metro, ★★★★★) and Jayde herself described as “one of the most important comedy voices of her time” (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine ★★★★★). On screen, Jayde stars in the BAFTA and RTS Award winning Alma’s Not Normal (BBC Two), the upcoming Take That movie Greatest Days, hosts Crazy Delicious (Netflix), and BAFTA nominated series Snackmasters (Channel 4), and has written and starred in the BBC Radio 4 stand-up special Hometown Glory.
Luke Kempner – Macho Macho Man
Star of Spitting Image, Steph’s Packed Lunch and with over 10 million views of his online videos, comedian and impressionist Luke Kempner is one of the UK’s hottest mimics and stand up comics. With a hilariously razor sharp roster of contemporary impressions ranging from Piers Morgan and Bojo to Ted Hastings and Paul Hollywood, Luke has become a household name and is bringing his highly anticipated show Macho Macho Man - ‘it’s Les Mis meets Line Of Duty’, it’s ‘Hamilton meets I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ to Edinburgh. As seen (and heard) on Spitting Image (BritBox), Steph’s Packed Lunch (Channel 4), The Last Leg (Channel 4), The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Love Island: Aftersun (ITV2) and The Now Show (BBC Radio 4). “Gloriously funny” (Independent). “A hugely accomplished impressionist, with the technical skill to jump in and out of a huge range of real-life characters in a beat.” (Chortle).
Matt Forde – Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right
Following his biggest tour to date the UK’s leading political comedian Matt Forde (Spitting Image, British Scandal, The Last Leg, The Royal Variety Performance) has extended with a month long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. There are wallies everywhere and half of them are running the country. The other half are trying to. Matt lashes out right, left and centre. And chucks in some funny voices too. “Possibly the best political comedy show on the Fringe” (The Telegraph ★★★★★), “Forde is as gratifyingly sane as comedians come... smart, funny ideas” (The Times ★★★★), “Is there a better political comic than Matt Forde currently working in the UK? I can't think of another to touch him” (Chortle ★★★★½).
Matt Forde – The Political Party
Following an 8-year sold-out residency in London and the West End, Matt Forde (Spitting Image, The Last Leg) returns to Edinburgh for three live podcasts including interviewing one of the most significant ever figures in British politics, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The UK’s leading political podcast has over 7 million downloads and is regularly included in iTunes’ Top 10 comedy podcasts. Recently listed by The i newspaper as one of the 50 Greatest Podcasts. Previous guests include: Tony Blair, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Michael Heseltine, Nicola Sturgeon, Angela Rayner, Anthony Scaramucci, Alastair Campbell and Gary Neville. “Is there a better political comic than Matt Forde currently working in the UK? I can't think of another to touch him” (Chortle ★★★★½), “our foremost satirical stand-up” (The Sunday Times ★★★★), “smart, funny ideas” (The Times ★★★★).
Phil Wang – The Real Hero in All This
Hot off the heels of his critically acclaimed Netflix special Philly Philly Wang Wang and subsequent sold-out and critically acclaimed performances in Melbourne (MICF) and America (debut tour), Phil Wang (Late Night with Seth Meyers, Apollo, QI) is bringing his highly infective British-Malaysian variant of comedy to the Edinburgh Fringe once more. Phil’s last show in Edinburgh was in 2019, so immunity to his charm has faded significantly. Thank goodness he’s back with a new hour of absolute gold about race, family, and everything that’s been going on in his Philly little life. Your doctor called - you’re due your next dose of Wang. "Stand-up dreamland” (Guardian ★★★★), “A unique and properly funny stand-up” (The Times ★★★★).
Richard Herring – RHLSTP
Get to shout out RHLSTP like a proper cool kid as the multi-award-winning and perennially popular live podcast interview series in which comedian Richard Herring ("The Podfather", The Guardian) chats with some of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment returns to the Fringe, with a different show every day, top guests, improvised chat, revelations and big laughs. Hosted by one-balled Taskmaster Champion and “King of Edinburgh” (The List), RHLSTP is the only podcast to ask the questions you never knew you wanted to know the answer to: Ham hand or suncream armpit? Richard’s 43rd show and his 26th Fringe, previous Fringe interviewees include Richard Osman, Sarah Millican and Adam Buxton. Head to richardherring.com for guest names.
Rob Auton – The Crowd Show
Following on from two consecutive years of being named one of the best reviewed comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, The Crowd Show is a show about crowds, the power of people and togetherness. It is suitable for anybody who wants to be in the crowd for this show. Award-winning comedian and podcaster Rob Auton has previously performed one-hour shows about the colour yellow, the sky, faces, water, sleep, hair, talking and time. Rob’s daily podcast, The Rob Auton Daily Podcast, won Best Daily Podcast at the British Podcast Awards and last year HarperCollins’ Mudlark released his latest book, I Strongly Believe in Incredible Things, which he both wrote and illustrated. “Poetic, pithy and profound piece about what makes us human” (Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard ★★★★). “He romantically seeks wonder and amazement in the everyday...an engaging, thoughtful show” (Steve Bennett, Chortle ★★★★). “Makes laughter out of wonder and brings us all together. We need him” (Kate Copstick, The Scotsman). “Something that'll leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy round the edges.” (Gayle Anderson, The Herald). “Brilliant” (Stewart Lee).
Simon Brodkin – Messed Up
World-famous prankster and award-winning character comedian presents his second stand-up show as himself. The brand-new show, far more personal than his debut, sees Simon explore his recent ADHD diagnosis, the disparity between mental and physical health, and dive headfirst into examining religion, war and politics. In Messed Up Simon also continues to explore his identity and relationship to fame, having made headlines all over the world with his notorious stunts but been rejected by I’m A Celebrity for not being famous enough. Simon’s debut show as himself at the 2019 Fringe became a smash hit, enjoying a sell-out run, and was selected by The Guardian and Evening Standard as one of the ‘Best Comedy Shows at the Edinburgh Fringe’. The show was described as “a sublime piece of daft comedy” (The List ★★★★) which “hits plenty of bullseyes” (Beyond The Joke ★★★★) and “a welcome evolution” (The Scotsman ★★★★). Simon took the show on a nationwide tour, which was extended to almost 100 dates to meet huge demand.
Tickets and venue details here.
