The Unquotables!

Some comedians are so high in the public stratosphere there hardly seems any point mentioning them. You know they're funny, and they'll sell their tickets and generally everybody is going to have a good time. But why not take a different perspective on these lords and ladies of laugh town? The following is The Skinny's alternative preview of the comedians you think you know, and offers some suggestions for poster quotes you're unlikely to see printed come Fringe time. We're through the looking glass, here, people.

Frankie Boyle
The local boy done good, Frankie Boyle seems to command nothing short of fervent mania from the home crowd whenever he graces the Glasgow stage. As the shining jewel of BBC's Mock the Week (no mean feat considering the other talent on board) Boyle has turned his acerbic, cynical wit into a winning formula. A proud Scot, he's never been shy to talk up the home lands with some misty Rabbie Burns style allegiance including: "When they made Braveheart, everyone thought it was ridiculous that Mel Gibson was playing a Scottish guy. But look at him now - an alcoholic racist." Boyle's uncanny ability to tap into the heart of the nation and its most pressing issues is what endears this performer to the uplifted crowds. Like Alex Salmond before him, Boyle is our man in London, sticking it to the media establishment with his staunch refusal to change his accent or his strange similarity to our national heroes, The Proclaimers.

Unquotable quote: "Frankie Boyle loves life, loves Scotland and loves to make us laugh"

Jerry Sadowitz
With a career spanning over 25 years, Jerry Sadowitz has been spewing vitriol at all and sundry in what is surely the most impressive alternative comedy career these isles have seen. Making his break at the London Comedy Store in the early 80s, Sadowitz's manager Malcolm Hardee touted him as "too shocking for TV". Despite this his broadcasting career began in earnest in 1990 and brought his mix of sleight-of-hand magic and loud-of-mouth insults to ever increasing offended audiences. Now in his mid 40s, Sadowitz continues his unparalleled mission to challenge the icons, morals and beliefs of every person in this nation. Which other selfless comedian, living or dead, has dedicated their anger-consumed lives to helping us tear down false illusions and fortify our self worth? Leading by example of loathing, Sadowitz gives us the chance to re-evaluate this temporal life and bring us to a Matrix-style revelation that nothing is important, and everyone is a cunt.

Unquotable quote: "As comedy's Mr Nice, Jerry Sadowitz's show is life affirming stuff"

French and Saunders
From their humble beginnings at drama school, where they met in 1978, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have scaled the unreachable heights of comedic superstars, in what seems like a fairytale career. Making immediate impact in Channel 4's first comedy series The Comic Strip Presents...(1982), French and Saunders were obvious leading lady material. French, the curvaceous beauty, leapt about in Fellini inspired spoofs with perfect mock sultriness, and Saunders' impeccable Meryl Streep mimicry showcased her talent for ironic acting. They traversed from the 'alternative' scene to 'national treasure' status with incredible ease through seven BBC series, Christmas specials and spin off shows including documentary series Absolutely Fabulous. In what is surprisingly only their third live tour, the first ladies of comedy are bringing their double act to the SECC for a prestigious night of expensive comedy. The Queen, said to be a big fan of their Pulp Fiction spoof, is planning to be in attendance where, in a surprise move, she will abdicate her throne to them.

Unquotable quote: "God bless you Ma'am and Ma'am"

Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee has always been subject to misinterpretation by the media spotlight and sadly it's infringed on his mainstream career as a family entertainer. Lee first came to public attention with his writing partner, Richard Herring, in Radio one's Fist of Fun (1993) which was later transferred to television. As the title suggests, the show was a light-hearted protest against violent clowns and was popular with a student audience, many of whom had been abused by clowns in their childhood. Lee and Herring's next television project was This Morning with Richard Not Judy (1998) in which the two spectacularly brought Biblical parables to the Sabbath morning viewers on a secular BBC channel. ("Consider the lily, aaaaah....erm, consider it a bit more...aaaaah.") Lee has gone on to champion the best of 'Britishness' in his solo shows in which he offers himself as a living monument to the death of Princess Diana, recounts a religious awakening on a country road and warmly talks of the greatest British comedy invention ever; Del Boy. Lee's inclusion in Channel 4's Best Stand Up of All Time is surely the start of a turn around which will put him at the top of the wish list for the next Royal Variety show.

Unquotable quote: "This world class entertainer has what it takes to be the Britain's next Ben Elton."

That's it for now, but if you want the fear of being taken out of context, why not add your own suggestions for unquotable quotes.