Edinburgh Fringe 2025: The Skinny's Comedy Picks

The list is simple; half debut comics and half returning artists (with a couple of one-offs squeezed in). We’d also heartily recommend everyone we spoke to in July and August’s issues (Brass Tacks’ roster, Abnormally Funny People, Liebenspiel’s roster, Molly McGuinness, Andy Barr, Jain Edwards, Rosa Garland, Su Mi, Ellen Turnill Montoya, Liam Withnail and Alex Stringer). Here goes...

Local lad Ayo Adenekan (Monkey Barrel (Cab Vol 2), 30 Jul-24 Aug (not 13), 1.30pm, £7-8) burst onto the Scottish comedy circuit after COVID and has quickly become a favourite with his tales of growing up in Edinburgh as a queer, Black man and his easy, laidback charm.

Ada and Bron (Pleasance Courtyard (Attic), 30 Jul-24 Aug (not 13), 11pm, £9-13) have got it going on. The pair have been working with the likes of Fringe legend John-Luke Roberts and Christian Brighty on the show, and already have a BAFTA nom under their belt (!!!). We think this real life couple is trying to seduce us with their extravagant character comedy.

A cinephile named Cabbage (Underbelly George Square (Buttercup), 30 Jul-24 Aug (not 12,19), 9.45pm, £8.50-12.50) is our list’s first clown. The alter-ego of performer and professional costume designer Eliza Nelso, Cinemadrome sounds like the perfect mash-up of late night gags, drag and multimedia, wrapped up in pop culture references. 

Having been on the scene for some time, we’re excited to see Toussaint Douglass’ (Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker One), 30 Jul-24 Aug (not 11), 7.25pm, £9-13) Fringe debut. Endearingly awkward and silly, Accessible Pigeon Material opens the door on the comic’s unique world view, tackling neurodivergence, Windrush and the rat-with-wings all at the same time.

The second of our Scottish recs is Kim Blythe (Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose (Other Yin), 30 Jul-25 Aug (not 11), 7.30pm, £10-15). Having only started stand-up a couple of years ago, Kim is well on her way to being a household name in Scotland thanks to her cheery online clips (and semi-serious investigative journalism around ghost election candidates). Cowboy is set to chart her rise to fame whilst battling with imposter syndrome.

Making a welcome return to the festival is oddball clown Lucy Pearman (Monkey Barrel (Cab Vol 1), 1-24 Aug (not 11,18), 1pm, £10-15), bringing her first full run to the Fringe since 2019. Innocent, interactive and completely absurd, Pearman’s new show Lunartic sees her dress as The Moon to perform an hour of playful derangement for our pleasure. 

Phil Ellis (Monkey Barrel (MB4), 11-24 Aug, 12.45pm, £10) has long been on our must-see-every-Fringe list and just gets better and better. We gave last year’s show five stars, he was nominated for the big Edinburgh Comedy Award 2024, and following his latest outing, Soppy Stern, he’s about to be on Taskmaster. Snap up tickets before he’s playing massive venues!

Finally (indulge us for a minute), once a year, a Fringe show comes along with such raw animal magnetism that we just can’t pull ourselves away. This year, that’s Adam Riches and John Kearns are Ball and Boe (Pleasance Courtyard (Grand), 14-16 Aug, 11pm, £21). For three nights only, the two award-winning comedians become two giants of the musical theatre scene with a bromance never before seen at the Fringe. Initially at Soho Theatre over Christmas, rumour has it real-life Boe loved the show so much, he’s now giving the comedians singing lessons.

We also wanted to take the time to shout out three one-off gigs taking place over the festival... Controversial during the Fringe, Alternative Comedy in Good Faith (Glasgow Zine Library, 10 Aug, 12-8pm, £5-£8) is an afternoon of shows for folk who don’t fancy being in Edinburgh with the Gallaghers. Boasting hours from David Callaghan, Ruth Hunter, Richard Brown and more, it’s the perfect escape from all the obnoxious bucket hats glued to the heads of mad-fer-it wanks.

In aid of Citadel Youth Centre, Punchline on Leith (Fringe @ Citadel, 6 Aug, 7pm, £15) brings together a corker of a lineup for a much-deserving cause. Sets from Stevie Martin (whose whole Fringe run has already sold out), Liam Withnail, and more ace comics, plus Nish Kumar headlining. Why wouldn’t you buy a ticket? And if you can’t make it, chuck a couple of quid friendsofcitadel.org.uk’s way. 

And join Connor Burns and pals to raise vital funds for the Edinburgh Food Project (Assembly Checkpoint, 18 Aug, 6.30pm, £15). Although the lineup is yet to be revealed, it’ll be a surefire cracker. You can also support the Edinburgh Food Project through monetary and food donations or volunteering your time at edinburghfoodproject.org. If you’re in need of support yourself, all the info is on there too.