Mark Nelson: Guilty Pleasure

What a competent and assured final Fringe performance this is. Mark Nelson is one of the most charismatic of young Scottish talents, and tonight's set guides a nearly packed house through homely digs at T in the Park and Old Firm battles before taking expertly timed risks with more provocative material.

The cavernous, imposing auditorium is subject to one of Nelson's spiky opening commentaries. On the evidence of tonight's show, he'll be commanding bigger spaces this time next year, and if he can do so whilst retaining the cunning and integrity of his more sardonic moments, he'll be an essential Scottish voice for years to come.

Striking up instant chemistry with posh punters and tourists in the front rows, the notion of a guilty pleasure ripples through masterful segments on Scottish obesity, questionable driving instructors, fish, appalling music festival behaviour and the pathos of pornography. There are some serious points about law and politics woven into the narrative, but Nelson wears his more scholarly side lightly, never deviating from the very direct, likeable Dumfries delivery that creates a very cordial ambience this evening.