Scott Agnew: Scottish Comedian of the Year 2008

Taking one of the many awards in British comedy can leave comedians with high expectations to meet. Whilst Scottish Comedian of the Year may not be the most prestigious accolade on offer, the title of Scott Agnew’s 2009 show creates a good level of anticipation for this, his first full-length Fringe show.

There is no doubt that Agnew is funny. Although he avoids the stereotypical persona that a number of gay comedians adopt, there is little in the way of originality in the set, apart from his tales of friendship with Glasgwegian gangsters. The vast majority of the time is spent charting the past decade in the comic’s life, from his first gay experience in Newcastle to being on the brink of suicide after too many cocaine-fuelled parties. Agnew constructs his tales ably, winning his audience's attention by intertwining his comic wit with some riveting and often shocking stories.

Agnew does what he does very well. Potentially offensive sketches seem less so thanks to his matter-of-fact delivery and the audience warm to him early on, due to his engaging stories about coming out and the subsequent West-coast Catholic prejudice. But the show lacks any outstanding element to set the comedian apart in a packed Fringe line-up, and he fails to do anything spectacular that would warrant the hype that built up last year. If Agnew is to reach the heights that many have tipped him for, he is going to have to raise his game.