Phil Ellis: Bath Mat @ Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh

Freed from the rigid hour-long shows of the Edinburgh Fringe, Bath Mat gives Phil Ellis license to play and lets his excellently crafted gags, and his audience, breathe. A neat amalgamation of Ellis’ past two Fringe hours (2024's Come On and Take The Rest of Me and this year's Soppy Stern) Bath Mat is a themeless, but never aimless, showcase of the comic’s talents.

High-kicking and crooning through a selection of loosely stitched together club-friendly fives, Ellis covers a lot of ground. Whether it’s economic ways to carpet a bedsit, tips for bad parents, or a bit about his Auntie’s untimely demise, his world building and punchlines are second-to-none. 

Ellis’ hype man (fellow comedian Tom Short) is also still by his side – chipping in with sound effects or helping create the perfect viral moment. It certainly adds to the energy and anarchy Ellis thrives in, but could use a little more variation in how the hype is built, or be used more sparingly, like the audience plants in previous shows.

This is indeed a looser, more freewheeling style of show, with designated playtime with his crowd built in, and less theme and structure than what Fringe audiences may expect. But you simply can’t fault Ellis’ revelling in the joy of live comedy. If anything, it’s a little easier on the room; less relentless on the jaws and bellies of his audience, though still making sure they leave aching from laughter.

His double-headed finale, which recounts a disastrous roadside gig, followed by a version of John Denver's Country Roads dedicated to his hometown, is simply immaculate. Together, the two segments perfectly bring Ellis’ particular fortes in laser-focused gag writing and controlled chaos to an almighty crescendo.

Bath Mat makes for a particularly endearing introduction to the recent Taskmaster contestant for new fans, and a fine addition to Ellis’ oeuvre for existing ones.

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Reviewed at Monkey Barrel Comedy, Edinburgh, 21 Feb 2026
Phil Ellis: Bath Mat tours the UK in 2026, including The Stand, Glasgow, 15 Apr
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