Katy Brand - Celebrities Are Gods

You'd have to be living in a cave on a remote island in the middle of nowhere, with really bad TV reception and no branch of WHSmiths not to have noticed that we're living in a heat-reading, mind-numbed, celebrity obsessed country. People who we'd otherwise hope never to have the misfortune to encounter are being propelled into the spotlight and taking up precious time on the TV schedule which should be dedicated to, in my opinion, people with talent. Since talent no longer seems to be a prerequisite for fame, it seems strange perhaps that having written a show worshipping celebrities as gods, Katy Brand has buckets of the stuff. Katy carefully peels back the layers of celebrity to reveal their well-hidden depths - fanta fanatic Charlotte Church, manipulative Kate Moss and a relentlessly "normal" Kate Winslet - celebrities as you've never seen them before. Brand's alternative take on these A-listers is bold, refreshing and is ultimately a masterclass in character comedy. Katy is an engaging and versatile performer surely destined to join the celebrity flock, despite her intelligence and imagination. A very funny show in a very hot room, make sure you take a bottle of a very well-known brand of fizzy water with you. (Do you see what I did there?)

An Hour With Danielle Ward & Roisin Conaty

The Monkey Butlers

Daniel Kitson

Slaughterhouse Live

Dave Skinner & Friends

I challenge anyone to go to this show and not laugh out loud. I did, and I went on my own. It is almost unheard of for me to let out more than a quiet chuckle when I see things a la Billy no mates, but Dave's show had me laughing at a slightly embarrassing volume for someone trying not to draw attention to herself. Dave and his smashing friend Ewan present a wide range of brilliant characters, some inspired by mediocre celebrities, some by stereotypes and even one loveable dribbling freak inspired by John Merrick, but all of them very funny and not one bit predictable. This is a really well thought through, tightly written show which is right up the Comedy Lounge alley. I think we have found our new favourites and certainly a strong contender for the Lounge awards later on in the month. Dave Skinner & Friends is the hidden jewel amongst the sketch and character swarmed programmes of this year's Fringe. It's not often that a stand-up can turn his hand to sketches and characters with notable success but Dave has managed it with a little help from his friends. This is one show we'll be seeing as often as we can fit it into our very busy schedules.

McClelland & Leung's Somewhat Secret Society

Matt Tiller Lady Killer

Nick Mohammad

Back In Town Again - Waltzing Out Of Town.

Unquestionably the star of last year's Cambridge Footlights offering, Nick Mohammad returns to Edinburgh with his first solo show which showcases his flair for performance and natural comic timing. Some of the characters leave the audience slightly baffled but Nick leaves no time for minds to wander, rattling through the characters at quite a pace. This is a brilliantly produced piece of comedy which deserves to be seen and is potentially the most well rehearsed one man show on the Fringe.

Slaughterhouse Live

Paul Kerensa's 26

Howard Read's Comeback Special